Glorify God in the Fires
Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires… Isaiah 24:15 KJV
This past summer and early fall have been filled with emotion. The family cabin was struck by lightning, caught fire, and burned. Ironically, the only thing salvageable was the wrought iron wood rack and a stack of dry oak.
My parents purchased the dilapidated place over 40 years ago and have been restoring it ever since. My siblings and I have learned many valuable lessons in home construction such as how to strip pine logs for beams, mix concrete to repair seawalls broken by ice flows, and shingle a cedar roof. After the projects of the day was done, we would go fishing, sailing, and swimming. Playing games, roasting marshmallows, and eating popcorn on the porch waiting for the moon to rise over the lake was awesome!
Forty years provides a lot of memories. Was it difficult to sift through the ashes, looking for remnants of books, toys, furniture, and household items? Yes, but each scrap told a story. Tonka Toasters for the nights we made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and berry pies over the open fire. Agatha Christie mystery books that were covertly read under the covers with a flashlight. Nautical hostess gifts given with love by friends over the years. Each melted lump was special in one way or another. While physical pieces of the past are in ashes, the memories cannot ever be taken away.
The week of the fire, my friend Karen sent an encouraging text message. God’s Word was just what I needed. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires… Isaiah 24:15 KJV. No one was hurt. Insurance will cover. I’ve had a lot of family time this summer. God is good. All the time. I will glorify God in the fires of life because I know He’s there, in the fires, storms, sunny days, good, bad, always.
© 2018 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
Photo credit B. Danielson
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