September 2012 Devotional

Barbara Reynolds, signed by Lisa Jordan

John 14.27

Trust in the Lord

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid — John 14.27

"Don’t be afraid," my grandmother said to me, "God will take care of you." As a little 5 year-old girl, I would walk for about 2 blocks along the railroad tracks where trains would frequently go by. I had to cross the tracks that went by my home in order to visit my grandmother whom I loved dearly.

The train would go uptown to load up with pulpwood and then go back down by my home. On a particular day long ago, the train was late coming back, and my mother was yelling for me to come home. We had no telephone in my early days. Communication occurred by hollering or ringing bells. Afraid, I started crying because I did not want to go. Being deaf, I was scared I would not hear the train coming.

My grandmother said, "Go on. You’ll be fine. Your mother and God are watching you." So off I went. But half way home, the train came barreling down the tracks. Thankfully, the engineers of that train were my mother's cousins. They saw me, and slowed the train until I ran down the bank and waved as the 30 cars loaded with pulpwood passed.

Being deaf is no problem, because I have faith that Jesus will always be by my side no matter where I travel.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for your love. Give us faith to know that you will always be with us. Amen.