Genesis 42:21
“They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.’”
This is not a comfortable E-Votional for me to write as I remember just a few short months ago placing a small crystal bell beside Joyce’s bed. Many times I would be busy writing or working on Bible study when I would hear the “tinkle-tinkle” of that little bell.
I have to confess I sometimes grumbled about the interruption. When Joyce asked for a dish of frozen yogurt or something of that nature, I wondered why she could not get up and get it herself. At that time I had no idea that her uncharacteristic behavior was one of the first signs of the disease.
Today this precious wife of mine lies on a hospital bed in our living room. Now most of the time, she is not even able to speak. As I looked down on her last night, she was talking with people in her past but could not be awakened to the present. Tears flooded my eyes, even as they do now…How I long to be interrupted by the sound of that bell one more time.
God’s call to us is like the sounding of a bell. He calls us to turn from the things of this world and serve Him. How sad it is that we are often so busy with our little pet interests that we become irritated by the Holy Spirit’s prompting. One of the things I am learning through this valley of trial is to stay close to the Lord, and when He calls be ready to respond.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil