Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both the soul and the body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, from New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In about 1980 I was a Lay Reader, but was training to be a Deaconess. I went on placement to a small village, to a wonderful priest who lived with his sister in a huge, old, vicarage.

One day I was in their house where an open fire had been lit in the huge fireplace, with some big logs. Suddenly the vicar and his sister shot up from their seats and started lifting a large log off the top of the fire. Apparently they had seen some insects on the wood. So this lovely couple lifted the burning log out of the fire before taking it through the living room and hall to the front door. Both doors had heavy velvet curtains over them to protect from drafts. I found myself holding my breath in case they set the house alight, but a few minutes later the log came back minus the insects and was put safely back onto the fire.

I guess we are like miniscule insects to God, yet He who planned our world, and who cares for every being in it, treats us with the kind of love that the vicar and his sister gave to those small creatures. God knows everything about us, and is there for us whenever we need Him. We just need to turn to Him.

Wednesday 25th November, follow up thoughts

Lord God,
we thank You
for Your love for us:
that You sent Your Son,
to rescue us from our sins.
We thank You also that You
are always there for us,
and that we can turn to You
each day.
Amen.