Alphabet of thankfulness, “S”
Boy, there are a lot of words that start with “S”. I’m in a quandary-which to pick, which to pick. I love scenic spots. That would include Scotland. I’m thankful for sensitivity in people. I enjoy sermons. I like silence. I like smooth and soft things. I love the sun and spicy foods. I’m thankful there are standards. I appreciate stillness. Strength is good. But I’m going to settle on stones. I know, strange.
stones
I like things in their natural state. Organic things. Stones certainly qualify. A stone is a stone is a stone. Sure, they be chiseled, painted on, (I have a big board on Pinterest devoted to painted stones. That’s how much I love them.)
painted stones
stacked, cemented together or crushed, but the essence of a stone remains intact. There is something eternal about a stone. They haven’t changed since the beginning of time. Real stones cannot be recreated.
Stones have been symbols for various religions since the beginning of time. I have a red bowl in my bathroom full of small stones.
My “remember” stones
On some of the stones, I’ve written the word “remember”. This refers to the story about Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. The heads of the twelve tribes were each to pick up a stone (much bigger than my stones) from the river as a reminder of God’s deliverance by clearing the way through the Jordan River so they could pass through. The stones were kept in their home.
The Israelites were futher instructed that they were to be prepared to share this story whenever their children were asked what the stones meant. They were to say, “Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stone shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4: 6-7)
Joshua could have suggested any number of ways for the Israelites to remember crossing over the Jordan River. He could have told them to simply pass the story on from one generation to another as was their custom. He could have told them to write it down. Instead he told them to pick up stones. I think it’s because a stone is a reminder of an Eternal God. A stone is a thing of substance. Like all of nature, it hasn’t changed since the beginning of time.
I like stones.
God bless and have a good day.
(p.s. I forgot to schedule this post for this morning so it’s getting out late.) 🙁
