Photo by Shadrina Izzati on Unsplash
It was a beautiful September morning. The sky was blue, the sunlight shining through the autumnal yellow leaves of the branches above me. I turned the corner of the road and as my parents' driveway came into view I found myself smiling.
On my last journey back to the family home I had used google maps location sharing so that my parents could see where I was and whether I was getting any traffic delays. I had arrived at their home that time to interested observations of my hold-up on the M25 and curiosity as to why I had stopped at several points which wouldn't normally warrant it - one was to slowly pass horses and another to briefly reply to a message.
I was now anticipating another attentive welcome and wasn't disappointed.
Sure enough, as I backed the car down the drive the backdoor stood open. Within a few minutes I had been welcomed with loving hugs and kisses and was sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and homemade cake, my parents chatting and interested in how my journey had been and all the latest family news.
Photo by Fernanda S on Unsplash
But simultaneously to my smile and thinking how my parents had probably been noticing where I was, the thoughts had also come of my Heavenly Father and how He always knows where I am - all the time.
He doesn't need google maps location sharing to track my every movement and try to work out what might be delaying my journey.
He knows everything about me - has it all planned out, before it even happens. And I am so precious to Him that He notices if even a hair falls from my head.
These thoughts, that flashed through my mind as I put my foot on the brakes, were like the warmth of the sun that was brightly shining, and they wrapped round me with the deep comfort and security of everlasting arms.
Do you need reminding of this today, dear reader?
Have you been feeling uncared for and alone, or anxious and worried?
Or have you never known this comfort and feel like you are bobbing along life like a cork on the surface of the sea, tossed about by the waves, not knowing where you are, adrift, alone and feeling that no one really cares and anything could happen at any moment?
I continued my happy day with my parents - part of it spent in the old apple orchard, helping to put together a walk-in chicken coop.
As we clipped portions of cage together, the sounds of a distant hedge cutter and the neighbour's bantams mingled with the gentle breeze in the trees, the sun shone warm through our coats and I was taken back in time to a photo I have of two of my nephews - now young men - helping me to pick apples from those old trees.
Photo by Bethany Ballantyne on Unsplash
The memories and peace of being back at my childhood home were deep and my heart and mind quietened to the pace of that time when days seemed long and undisturbed by the distant world.
Saying goodbye to my parents a few hours later I was leaving blessed with the abundance of their kindness and gifts - a box of eggs, apples picked from the garden, a newly purchased basked filled with my father's homegrown walnuts, a book I had mentioned and more.
So much in our lives gives us a little glimpse, a little taste of something greater - parental love and concern for their children - how much more the love and concern of our Heavenly Father for His children.
Our parents give us things which improve our lives and bless us, but things that will finish or wear out and eventually be gone.
Our Heavenly Father is the kindness behind their gifts - all good things come from Him. He daily gives us life, food and drink, family and friends, our homes and health, the beauty of His creation all around us - all things that will too pass away.
Craik, Scottish Borders 2025
We may feel we have not been given as much as we would want of earthly blessings, or we see them being withheld out of our reach or taken away. Is God unkind? He cannot be unkind. He is love and He is wisdom.
If we have scarcity as a result of ours or others' sins, or the work of Satan and his agents, God may use this to show us that He will never leave or forsake His children. Everything we have may be taken away or destroyed, but nothing in this world can take away God from His children.
To those whom He has chosen and drawn to Him with His everlasting love, He gives an eternity of life after death. A spiritual life, in a heaven of no sin and always with Him, living in His love, cherished and precious. The pleasures and gifts we enjoy from Him in this life are just a little glimpse, a little taste of the wondrous life with Him which we shall have forever.
So, whatever you are experiencing today, dear reader - if you are enjoying God's blessings, may we thank, praise and glorify Him, or whether you are feeling the absence of the parental and family love which we should give each other - may we remember how He knows, He cares, He is Sovereign over all things, and He doesn't need manmade technology to come right to you in your need.
And if you have never known God's love, never believed that He cares about or notices you, come to Him in prayer - tell Him you feel alone, you want to know His love, ask Him to give you faith to believe in Him, ask Him to show His love and care to you. He delights in having us come to Him with such requests, when we come humbly and with broken hearts.
Just a few simple thoughts for you this month 😊. We have had some time away so I will hope to complete our 'David and the sons of Zeruiah' study next month, God Willing.
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