Three Cousins
Psalm 37:25 NIV
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
Laughter bursts and erupts throughout the hotel room as suddenly and colorfully as fireworks over St. Simons Island in July. Three cousins romp on a double bed, tickling and tackling each other. Their enthusiasm inspires the adults who recall fondly their own roughhouse days when they were 14, 11, and 9.
Time is slipping by us. The girls don’t stop growing. The eldest will enter high school this fall. The other two not far behind.
Yesterdays ago, when the girls were 6, 3, and 1, it seemed impossible to think they would drive cars, be chased by or chase boys, worry about algebra or read sad stories of war time torture and death.
Yesterdays ago, we were able to raise a protective wall around them and shelter them from the evils of the world.
Yesterdays ago we read to them and prayed with them at night before bed; we rocked them on our laps; we healed the cuts and bruises they accumulated.
Today we will not be able to mend every hurt, rock them when we want, or shelter them from the evils of the world. But we still pray and tell our stories. We tell them they are one of God’s children. They are loved by Him and us. We show them how to talk to God in prayer and find His spirit in themselves and others.
Yesterdays ago we planted the seeds of tomorrow, which has almost become their todays. Life for them will be fraught with challenges, joys, hardships, and love.
But today, laughter rings through the room, the pool, and the parks of this magical vacation time among cousins.
Yesterdays ago, we were able to raise a protective wall around them and shelter them from the evils of the world.
Yesterdays ago we read to them and prayed with them at night before bed; we rocked them on our laps; we healed the cuts and bruises they accumulated.
Today we will not be able to mend every hurt, rock them when we want, or shelter them from the evils of the world. But we still pray and tell our stories. We tell them they are one of God’s children. They are loved by Him and us. We show them how to talk to God in prayer and find His spirit in themselves and others.
Yesterdays ago we planted the seeds of tomorrow, which has almost become their todays. Life for them will be fraught with challenges, joys, hardships, and love.
But today, laughter rings through the room, the pool, and the parks of this magical vacation time among cousins.
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Lord, Bless the children as they grow into young adults. Protect them for us.
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