Carving Initials
"The Lord...heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:2-3)
Peggy and Bill invested their lives in others. They worked tirelessly
defending children in the court system, kids who had no one to help them.
One clear, sunny day around noon, their small plane took off from the local
airport. Within five minutes, as they were still flying low, the plane took a
dive and crashed right onto a major downtown city street. It was a miracle the
plane didn’t land on any cars. Yet it was so very sad this wonderful couple’s
life was so suddenly and prematurely snuffed out.
Many years ago, at a lay renewal retreat weekend, Peggy had left a gift on my
pillow. A small unfinished wooden heart, like you’d buy in craft stores. Printed
in a black marker was “SK + JC”. Sally Kennedy plus Jesus Christ. Our initials
in a heart, signifying we love each other.
That miniature wooden heart still sits on a shelf in my room. I look at if
often, and think of the love Peggy had for Jesus, and for others. I think of how
my initials and Jesus’ are carved in eternity.
Carving initials in a tree scars the outer bark, but the tree survives and the
initials are there for the life of the tree. Likewise when we have cuts, our
skin heals; our body is made by God in such a way that it heals.
Wounds of the heart, are more difficult, though. When our memories are scarred,
only Jesus can heal them. We may keep growing, yet the scar remains, until the
Lord heals us.
The good news is that not only is Jesus able to heal, He is more than willing.
Praise God for His goodness! He is the one to remember, when it comes to
initials being carved on our hearts.
Sally I. Kennedy, ©2009 Irish Thursdays Weekly Devotionals