Symbolic Youth

Ecclesiastes 11:10 tell us, “So then banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.” According to the author of my Bible Study, we are to just get on with living no matter the age. I have to add here that, “God’s got this!” --meaning the youth or the old-age thing. 

Symbolic Youth

 

As a youth I was complacent about half trust,

Just marking time to be grown and out on my own.

I was living life in its simple form which was a teenager’s norm.

Then life took place, and being older didn’t offer so much grace.

I looked back to my teen years and found myself in tears.

I began raging over this process of aging.

When did these gray hairs grow in?

What made this double chin?

My face has sprinkles of wrinkles.

My body is beginning to creak and groan,

And my forearms are no longer toned.

The sagging skin around my knees, I no longer wish to be bared,

 and my hearing is impaired.

My hair is thinning, and I am no longer grinning.

I am getting forgetful, and it’s making me fretful.

Oh, how I long for those teenage years with no debts in arrears.

And where, oh where, are the days of my youth,

When I had legs that were strong and could run,

When I had no cancerous skin from the sun,

When I had less hair that is white,

When I had better eye-sight,

When I had more teeth to number,

Less time needed for slumber, 

And when I had no pain from a walk down the lane?

Where, oh where, are those carefree days as, into the mirror, I gaze?

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  4/7/2026

 

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1,5 NIV 

 

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find pleasure in them’ - before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop...” Ecclesiastes 12: 1-3a NIV

Mercy

I stumble often. I am so glad that God has mercy and forgives me. I know this because of Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 

     But just what is mercy? And shouldn’t I show mercy just as God shows mercy? The dictionary’s definition is “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”  I read another definition as “undeserved forgiveness and unearned kindness.” 

     I took the word “Mercy” and did the following acronym to show what I need to do to have mercy toward someone. 

 

M aking a space in the heart for undeserved forgiving

E ntertaining love for one you need to forgive

R ecognizing the need to forgive 

C losing the book on the deed done in order to forgive

Y ielding up pride in order to forgive

 

    The only way to be able to have mercy is, first, to pray about it. Let God do a work in me. 

 

 

The Empty Tomb- Passing Through

The Empty Tomb -Passing Through

I have often heard and even said, “We are just passing through.” There is truth to that and an example was given:  

     When I look at the example Jesus gave me, I find ways to live my life that have meaning; whereas, if I live in my fleshly nature, I find as Solomon said, “All is meaningless!” However, with God and belief in Jesus, I find what gives peace and comfort to my “passing through.” 

     Jesus’s example in His “passing through” was in His earthly walk, and in the empty tomb. He arose and went to be with His Father, making clear that all who believe in Him will also rise to be with the Father in eternity. While in His earthly human form, He was just passing through.

     I will, one day, experience this when my soul leaves my body to enter a new doorway of life and will, one day, receive my heavenly body and my earthy tomb will be empty! I was only, on earth, passing through.

    

The Yoke

I think of a yoke as a heavy load or a burden. AI says that “a yoke was primarily used to connect two draft animals (usually oxen) together in order to pull heavy loads.” 

     When I contemplate Matthew 11:29 (NIV), “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” I can’t help but think of the yoke of my sin that Jesus took onto His shoulders at the cross.

     We all have yokes, like health issues, financial burdens, and laborious ones, but Jesus said, “take my yoke.” That means He will lighten the burden. 

     I suppose the paradox to that would the fact that we are a restless people, especially, if we don’t put God first and have Him in our lives. Without Him, we are seeking, searching, yearning, and creating heavy labor and burdens.

     We can, however, enjoy what labor we have. I, personally like to be busy. I enjoy my labor as long as it is not burdensome. One author I read used a phrase, “wear out rather than rust out.”  I do not believe I will wear out or rust out if I just rely on God. It is good to be yoked to God. He lightens my burdens. 

     I am so thankful Jesus took my yoke of sin, and He is still willing to lighten my load, give me His love and rest for my soul. 

 

Compassionate God

     This morning I thought about how Abraham bargained with the Lord regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people living there were very evil and God was finished with them. He was going to destroy the cities.

     Abraham asked, “What if there are 50 good people, will you destroy it? 

God said, “No, if there are 50 good people found, the city will be saved.”

     Abraham asked, “What if there are 5 less than 50, will you destroy the city? 

God answered, “No, if I find 45 good people, I will not destroy the city? 

     Abraham asked, “What if there are 40 good people, will you destroy the city?”

God replied, “No, if I find 40 good people, I will not destroy the city?” 

     Abraham asked again, “What if there are only 30, will you destroy the city?” 

God said, “No, if I find 30, I will not destroy the city?”

     Abraham asked once more, “What if there are only 20?”

God answered, “No, I will not destroy the city?”

     Abraham asked, “Lord, what if there are only 10 good people?”

God answered, “No, if I find 10 good people, I will not destroy the city.” 

 

     Don’t you imagine, God was getting a little impatient? Yet, God listened! He did not want to destroy those people living there. 

     This made me wonder and consider how I must try God’s patience, time and time again, but He loves me enough to save my soul! He hears and He listens. He is compassionate!

     God is not finished with me yet!

 

A Friend

I just read where one teacher asked her students, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” One student answered, “I want to be a friend.” 

     What an amazing answer! You don’t need a college degree to do that, and you don’t have to study hard. Just adhere to what scripture says. 

     

Proverbs 17:17a “A friend loves at all times.” 

 

Proverbs 22:11 “One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.” 

 

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

I Rather Have Jesus

Below are lyrics to a song by Rhea Miller which I sing a lot in church as I was growing up. This song holds so much meaning for Jesus is who I need. He fills my heart. He gives me joy. He is my all. Without Him, I am lost. Nothing satisfies my empty longing except Jesus. Jesus fills!

 

… I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

… Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

… I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name

… Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

 

     I thought the following scriptures also tell more on the filling of the heart:

 

Psalm 42:1-2a, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” 

 

Psalm 62:1, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.”  

 

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