But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)
To say that we have had windstorms this year is a gross understatement. We are getting to know our neighbor’s eating habits from the trash we’ve had to pick up in our yard – the hazard of being the last house before the cyclone fence!
Our poor trees took a beating and their branches covered an acre of yard. So few trees, so many branches; I suspect some are visitors from neighboring yards accompanying the trash.
I grabbed a big bucket and went about collecting branches. The smaller ones fit nicely into the bucket, but the longer ones had to be broken. Most snapped in half easily, but one branch hadn’t dried out completely and gave me quite a challenge. When it finally gave it snapped in my hand and dug into my palm – yikes, that smarts!
I babied that hand for days, the loose skin fell away and it left behind a perfectly round purple mark in the center of my palm. As I reviewed it one day it took my breath away. For just a moment I was looking into the hand of my Savior, a hole clean through and bloodied. A sacrifice, just for me.
I fussed at my simple gouge; the soldiers drove nails through His hands and feet. I jump at the smallest bump, He was hung on a cross; his side pierced. How dare me to feel sorry for myself over a scratch when He gave His life without complaint so that I could receive eternal life.
The mark stayed on my palm for weeks, a daily reminder of how much God loves me. Scars are reminders of choices made, good or bad, and always come with lasting memories. I wish the mark had not gone away. Like the cross hanging around my neck, I desire the simple daily reminders of who I am in Christ; someone just like you, a child of Christ.
Thank you Lord for making me ever aware of what You have done for me. I could never repay You. Don’t allow me to get so caught up in everyday life to forget that everything I have, every breath I breathe, every step I take, is made possible by You. I praise You.
Written by Linda J Humes
Written 6-8-2010
Tags: Aware, Choices, Complaint, Cross, Hand, Jesus, Reminder, Sacrifice
Linda J. Humes 