Lessons from God’s Creation

For our own Good

Our litter terrier, Shelby, gave my hand, and then Troy’s, a feather­light lick as we waited in the vet’s office. We were there with the heaviest of hearts, because this was to be Shelby’s last day. His rapid

deterioration left us no choice, but it was a horrible decision to make for our friend of more than fourteen years. We rubbed his brown fur and tried to make his last moments as comforting as possible. For our sakes, we would have liked to be able to spend a little more time with him, but for him that would not be a kindness. So, we did what we had to do; it was for his own good.

A week later, we were in the emergency room of Mercy Hospital where I was diagnosed with meningitis. One of the ways they tested me was a proce­dure that has always given me the horrors to think about — a spinal tap!

I was not the least bit reasonable when they told me I had to have one. I had a panic attack of the first magnitude. I started struggling to get out of bed and leave. The doctor was very patient, and he and Troy talked to me until I calmed down. In the end I had to summon my courage, and submit to the test. Troy held my hand, and rubbed my arm through this trial. He told me several times. “Annette, you have to do it; it’s for your own good.”

I have been thinking about the ways we have to do the right things in our lives in Christ. Sometimes they can be unpleasant to our inner, natural man, but we are required to do them just the same. Occasionally, there are things that we badly want to do, but must not. It is difficult either way, but we need to constantly work on these aspects of our spiritual life, and strengthen them constantly. We have to do it; it’s for our own good.

It sounded like a Freight Train. As we lay there early Sunday morning, I was awakened by the tell-tale sound of a tornado. It sounded like it was a couple of miles away, so I assumed there would be little or no damage to our property.

The next morn­ing I noticed a black wall at a neighbor’s home across the street. The wall was the un­derside of the lawn at­tached to two of their large pine trees that had fallen short of their house, but which had taken power lines with them as they fell.

Later, Annette, Leslie and I drove around to view nature’s devastation. We had been quite fortunate, losing nothing more than our power. Others had not been as fortunate as ourselves: viewing the damage we were struck by the awesome power of nature — which is in essence, a display of the power of God.

What did we learn from this catastrophic event? First and foremost, we saw God’s power. We also saw God’s providence. We felt grief for those who were affected by the storm, but relief that we had been spared.

We discovered again just how thoughtful our next-door neighbors are; they too lost power, but had the foresight to purchase a generator while they were still available. They shared — actually, they brought over water and offered us accommodations to use their shower if we desired. They have very little as far as the material world is concerned, but they are always more than willing to share what they have. (As a side note, Annette has been hav­ing Sunday school with their little daughter on a fairly regular basis; in fact, she is now able to say all the books of the Old Testament and has completed more than two-thirds of a Bible story book she and Annette have been using.)

We witnessed the closeness many display toward one another in times of crisis. They are willing to share what they have, to open their doors to their neighbors. That is an excellent example for us on at least two fronts. Firstly, we learn to be responsible for others, no matter who they might be. Secondly, we clearly see the reason why we must endeavor to bring God’s word to all of our neighbors.

We thank our heavenly Father for keeping us safely through the storms, for good neighbors, and the opportunity to tell others of the blessings of His word.