Monday Motivation: The Parlor

Friends

Growing up in a military family, I quickly mastered the art of moving. We moved 29 times before I finished high school. That’s a lot of houses, a lot of rooms. I recall a few details about one place or another, but there is only one house that remains crystal clear in my memory, only one house I ever really thought of as “home.”

 

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“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3 – NIV

 

there was something special about that room. Every piece of furniture was carefully placed and polished to a shine. The decorative items on display were not expensive. There was no money for that. Still, each item was selected with care and placed just so.  

 

It was the room that held the freshly-cut cedar at Christmas-time , complete with shiny balls, angel ornaments, and piles of silver tinsel draped across its branches. It was the room littered with shreds of wrapping paper following the Christmas morning gift giving session. It was where Santa left my gifts each year.

 

That room held the front door through which Sunday afternoon visitors entered, finding a warm welcome and a hot cup of coffee or a cool glass of sweet tea. That room held bridal and baby showers, tea parties, and circle meetings. Situated adjacent to the dining room, it was the place where guests relaxed and conversed after a scrumptious meal. 

 

My grandmother took great pride in that room. It was the place where she shared her gift of Southern hospitality. It was the room where she laughed with her sisters and chatted with her neighbors. That room was special to her, and the things in it were also special.

 

That’s how I know the book was special. I remember it lying for years on one of the side tables, a bookmark nestled between its pages. It was a book of poetry, and to my amazement, I can still recall the author. I remember asking Grandmama about it, because the author was Helen Steiner Rice. Since Grandmama’s maiden name was Rice, I had asked if the book had been written by a cousin. She had smiled kindly at me and explained that there was no family connection. She simply liked the book.

 

ever the curious sort, I snuck a peek at the page marked by the bookmark. What words had my grandmother highlighted in that slim book of poetry?

 

“When you are in troubled and worried and sick at heart and your plans are upset and your world falls apart. Remember God’s ready and waiting to share the burden you find much too heavy to bear,so with faith, let go and let God lead your way into a brighter and less troubled day.”

 — Helen Steiner rice   

 

I  recall reading those words several times, pondering their meaning. Five words jumped out at my teenage self, and those five words have remained with me all these years. “Let go and Let God.”

 

 Those words are powerful, are they not? They were powerful  for my grandmother, and they remain powerful for me.

 

“Let go, and let God.” Let go of the hurt, the anger, the bitterness. Let go of the regret, the resentment, the recrimination. Let go of the fear, the doubt, the worry. Let go of it all, and let God have His way.

 

Let God bring comfort to your aching heart. Let God wipe away the tears. Let God take away your anger and open your heart to forgiveness. Let God wipe the slate clean. Let God give you a fresh start.  

 

Let go of your worries. Give them to God. He is more than capable of handling whatever troubles are weighing you down. Trust Him with your hard things. God can make a way where there seems to be no way.

 

My grandmother knew hardship. She knew trials. She knew pain. But she also knew The Lord. She trusted God to see her through her hard times, and He did. She was a woman of great faith, and yet, just like you and me, she needed little reminders of God’s Presence, of His faithfulness. She found one of those reminders in a slim book of poetry. So did I. 

 

There are no better words I can say to you this morning. Whatever you are facing, no matter what hard thing is weighing you down, let these words help you find your way to a brighter  and less troubled day. “Let go and let God.” 

 

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““But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Jeremiah 17:7 – NIV

 

PRAYER

O Good, Good Father, we are humbled by Your great love for us. Great is Your faithfulness. Your mercies are new every morning. Lord, You know our hurts, our regrets, our fears, our worries. You know it all. Lord,help us let it all go, help us trust You with all our concerns. We know You can make a way where there seems to be no way. Lead us in the better way toward a brighter and less troubled day.

In the Merciful Name of Jesus, we pray,

Amen

 

Blessings,

Anita

 

-APS 7/3/2023