Yesterday, I went onto the Prayer for Floyd McClung Facebook Page and Sally, his wife had posted a poignant story:
Starts:
“Forty two years ago today, we were leading the busy ministry of “The Ark” in Amsterdam, Holland. Matthew, our son, was a couple weeks old. I hadn’t been sleeping well with a new baby and with all the noises of the city, and was very tired. “Tante (Aunt) Corrie” (Corrie ten Boom) invited us to come spend a few days at her home in Haarlem to get some peace and quiet. That was a wonderful blessing!
While we were there, my precocious daughter, Misha, spoke up at a mealtime and said “it’s my mother’s birthday!” Tante Corrie smiled, and left the room for a few minutes. When she returned, she gave me a little gift. It was a two-sided embroidery piece – one that she often used as a sermon illustration when she spoke.
The embroidery is of a crown. One side is a mess of threads – all tangled, knotted, and confused.
The other side is a beautiful crown.
She explained that as we go through life, we usually look at our lives like the messy side of the crown. We see the problems, the mistakes, the questions, the confusion…….and we think our lives are a mess. We are insecure, discouraged, and tend to have a low self image of who we are.
But, she explained, God looks down upon us as His beloved child. He sees beauty. He sees who He has created us to be. He sees the lovely creation He is forming us to be – in His image. He knows we’ll get beyond the “mess” with His help, and we’ll become all that He destined for us.
She gently explained that I was going through some of life’s “rough spots,” but God loved me and was pleased with me. He saw that I was His beautiful daughter.
It was such a special, timely, encouraging gift – that I have treasured all these 42 years since. I had it framed so that you can see both sides. It has had a place of honor and focus in our home, wherever we’ve lived, all these years.”
Ends.
What a wonderful reminder. Remember to pray for Floyd and Sally. Floyd has wakeful days and sleepy days. Pray for him and Sally as they walk through this unexpected health trial.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂