1 Peter 5:5-7 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
It was a warm and humid day in early June, not unlike those we’ve had around here lately. School had just let out and I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had made it through my sophomore year of high school, managed to get a great little job for the summer, and had achieved some independence via the purchase of my first vehicle, a very old but to me a very awesome VW Beatle. Life was good and since I had a couple of days before I started my summer job I decide to drive down to the local soda shop and spend a few hours hanging out with my friends. I remember finding my Mom in the backyard removing some sheets from the clothes line (Yeah it was that long ago). I told her about my plans and she got that look. You know the one, the Mom one. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” she said. “Storm’s coming.” Alls I could see was just a few fat puffy white clouds in the sky, nothing at all serious. So then I got that look. You know the one, the kid one. “I won’t be long, promise,” I pleaded. She relented but not before warning me to be vigilant in watching the sky and to keep the visit short.
About half way through my double chocolate chip milk shake a serious clap of thunder rattled the windows of the old soda shop and flickered the lights. It was only then that I noticed how dark the sunny afternoon had turned. I had forgotten all about the time, but now I could hear my Mom’s voice in my head. It began to pour just as I got inside the car and as I made my way home the wind and torrent intensified tossing the car around like a toy. Still I was only slightly agitated that I had not heeded my Mom’s warning. That all changed when the hail began to fall and just as my agitation grew to anger the rain and hail suddenly stopped. In that instance I heard the warning siren go off and looked in my rearview mirror into a swirling mass of total darkness. Now I felt a different emotion swelling up as I realized what it was that I had just seen. I floored the little car and zoomed around tree branches and trash cans being tossed around in my path like paper cups. Refusing to look back in the rearview mirror my concentration was on one thing, getting home. I remember turning onto my block and only then realizing that it had stopped raining and it seemed to be relatively calm. I had driven out of the storm and it had tracked away from my neighborhood. In the distance I could see our house and there she was standing on the front porch looking and waiting…Mom.
I thought about that late spring day when I read the passage for today. There was no Doppler or Satellite images back then, yet she knew. Mom was a small woman and I towered over her but when she embraced me as arrived back home I felt tiny in her arms, stupid, and so very safe. Smaller still under the massive storm cloud and so blessed when I saw the damage it caused and how fortunate I was to escape it. Our GOD has wonderfully arranged the order of things to work in our best interest and to HIS great glory even when we think we know better. This passage also reminds me of the title of an old TV show that seems appropriate, “FATHER Knows Best”!
Heavenly FATHER we thank and praise YOU for this day and for the opportunity to share YOUR awesome love and power with the world. When the storms come, give us YOUR gracious understanding and grant us confidence and peace in the midst of it all. Remind us that we have nothing to fear because of who we are and because of who YOU are. In Christ name we pray! AMEN
Jim L.