Part 2 in a 3-part series
Breakfast table surprises greeted my brothers and me each Valentine’s Day of our childhood. My mom either served heart-shaped pancakes with bacon and strawberry syrup or pink grits with sausage and heart-shaped toast.
Pink grits, you ask? Yes, what fun! She also sprinkled valentines and candy on the table with Pinterest-worthy flair.
My mother adored showing love to her family and celebrating special days. For the entire week of February fourteenth, she selected dresses or slacks outfits with pink or red touches and then added a piece of heart-shaped jewelry.
Each morning Mama chose her jewelry according to the day’s events. For Sunday school and church services at our small wood-frame church, she wore matching earrings and a beaded necklace to accessorize her dress and hat.
She wore pearls for weddings, funerals, and church directory photo shoots. For workdays at home, her wedding bands served as her only adornment. However, trips to the library, the Colonial grocery store, or a Merry Weeders garden club meeting required the addition of earrings.
Mama’s jewelry boxes held treasured pieces suitable for every occasion. Some of the bracelets and necklace-earring sets were gifts, selected especially for her by people who loved her.
Each day we can find word gifts in the Bible selected especially for us by our heavenly Father who knows our needs. As we embrace the jewels He provides, He enables us—with His truth engraved in our heart—to face any occasion that may arise.
Every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.
Psalm 119:129-130 The Message
When we ask God to teach us while we study His Word, we collect cherished gems from Scripture. Like a jewelry box that holds bracelets and rings, our hearts hold dear truths that fit every circumstance of our lives.
I wrote in the last post, “As we store God’s words in our hearts, He transforms them into sparkling jewels that change our lives.” Thoughts from a Jewelry Box and Psalm 119
Our heavenly Father sprinkles heart verses like valentines and sweet treats throughout the Bible to remind us who He is and how much He loves us. As a loving Father, He also includes words of correction and instruction. His truths create a well-balanced, festive spread to decorate the table of our hearts with His gifts.
Which treasured piece of Scripture do you need to add to your ensemble today? Do you need peace, instruction, or forgiveness? Do you lack faith, strength, assurance of His presence? Are you seeking wisdom, comfort, or boldness to witness? The Bible includes the right word for you today.
When a verse of Scripture addresses a particular challenge in our life, we could write it on a card and imagine wearing it as a valued accessory for a day of walking with Jesus. Perhaps we could write an encouraging verse on a valentine before mailing it to a friend.
Let’s proclaim with the psalmist:
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalm 119:15-16 ESV
Please encourage us by sharing how a particular Bible verse or passage of Scripture makes a difference in your life.
In the next post—the third in this three-part series—we’ll share ideas for memorizing Scripture.
Image by Pixabay
The right jewelry for the occasion and God’s words to us at the right time–what a beautiful comparison you have made! I have many examples of how both have been real for me, but Psalm 27:14 has been especially meaningful: “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart.” That is a “go to” in times of waiting, decisions, and disappointments.
Thanks for this beautiful glimpse into your mother’s sweet character and the take aways you have given us spiritually,
Marilyn, the verse you shared would be helpful in a variety of situations. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share the verse.
Marilyn, thanks so much for your comment. Psalm 27:14 is a keeper verse for many occasions.
Today I’m celebrating a healed patella, just 5 weeks after falling and cracking it (and spending 3 weeks in an immobilizer). My friends have been praying and speaking/writing pleasant words to me, and I’m now walking normally! Praise the Healer-of-all-our-diseases!!
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Psalm 103:2-3
Glenda, I’m thankful to read of your improvement and appreciate you sharing these powerful verses. Praise the Healer, indeed! You remind us that not only does God’s Word strengthen us when we read it, but it encourages our friends when they need hope.
Oh, how I enjoyed this post Ms. Jeannie. My mama did much the same. Her “everyday”, what she wore to the family’s service station where she did the bookkeeping, pumped gas, chased parts, and ferried customers were, as she called them, “plain days.” But oh, how she would get all “dolled up and dressed to the nines” on those special days. What joyous memories. Didn’t every boy think their mama was the prettiest gal in town? 🙂 Thank you so much for this heartwarming post ma’am.
J. D., I think you’re right about a boy’s view of his mom. How endearing. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of your mom and appreciate your kind comments.
My mom was a loving, humorous, classy, hard working lady. A home economics school teacher and work mate to my dairy farming dad. Her daily watch word was Psalm 128:24 “This is the day the Lord hath made. Rejoice and be glad in it.” So, rain or shine, we are called to have God given joy. Amen!
I’ll repeat your “Amen.” Your mom and mine would have been friends, I suspect. This verse reflects the positive attitude my mother exemplified all of her life. May we do the same even when “the going gets tough.” Looking to God as the Author of each day aligns everything else in proper perspective.
What beautiful memories, Jeannie! Your mother was a jewel and I ‘m so glad you have all those blessed gifts of love from your childhood to recall. I like to think of the words Jesus spoke to His disciples as a reminder of how we should share our love. “As I have loved you, so shall you love one another. By this all the world will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. “John 13:34-35 And especially during this time of strife, we need to love one another. Thank you for such an inspiring message.
Katherine, what a perfect verse for “this time of strife.” Loving as God loves sets the bar high but keeps us dependent on Him for obedience, doesn’t it? I’m so glad you included this one.
Thinking of treasures from Mema’s jewelry box… works with my life verse: “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45:2,3). In all these many years, I’ve known the joy of his treasures stored in secret places… quite often in darkness….. He is faithful!
Jan, what a powerful verse to anchor our hopes upon as we trust God. He is faithful, indeed. Thank you for sharing truth that has sustained you over the years.
Thank you Jeannie for sharing those special memories about your mother. She seemed like a lovely woman. Each year I sit with God and find a word to focus on and then I find a scripture to go with it. This year my word is love and I chose John 15:16-17: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Doreen, I’m glad you shared your focus verse for this year. When we remember God chose us and appointed us to bear fruit in His name, it humbles us and makes us want to share His love more. Thank you, Doreen, for your kind comments.
This is such a beautiful picture of how God shows His love–“Our heavenly Father sprinkles heart verses like valentines and sweet treats throughout the Bible to remind us who He is and how much He loves us. ”
Thanks for an encouraging way to start Valentine’s week!
Kathy, I’m glad you found encouragement in God’s truths as I did. I think sometimes we get distracted and miss some of the love gifts He sends our way. Reading His Word, of course, reminds us of His bountiful gifts. I appreciate you reading and commenting.
I love the idea of wearing the scripture. Such a great idea of carrying the Word with us everywhere. And pink grits? Yes, that’s a new one for me but I bet it made you want to eat them up!
Barbara, the pink color of the grits for Valentine’s Day was a shock at first, but after that, we looked forward to them. My mom made special days memorable, and I tried to do the same. There was an article in our local paper about me following her traditions. I agree that making Scripture part of our daily “attire” transforms our lives. Thanks so much for stopping by today.