Waxing prose.......

I was in Des Moines last weekend for my brother's graduation. I had an interesting moment as I was walking around the neighborhood where my parents live and recalled what has happened since we moved there almost twelve years ago. I've gone to college, gotten married, and moved out of state. My brother has grown up, as have the two kids that lived in the house next door. The neighbors on the other side have gotten divorced, and their kids have had kids out of wedlock. The folks behind us have dealt with the sorrow of the death of one child, the joy of the birth of another, and multiple heart attacks for his dad. And the tiny house across the street has had at least three owners and is now on sale for over $120,000-- way too much if you ask me.

Then I looked at the tree out in front of our house. I remember John climbing to the top when he was younger, and now it seems almost twice as high. It provides much more shade than it used to, as do the other trees around our house. Those trees were there long before we moved in, and they stand a chance to be there long after Mom and Dad head somewhere else. They've seen the hottest of summers, the dead of winter, storm after storm, and who knows how many people, and they still stand strong. This passage seemed appropriate:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion--to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

Lord, help us to comfort those who mourn, that they and we may be oaks of righteousness for Your glory. May we stand strong in You while the world changes around us.