The title today was a questioned asked this morning on the Christian radio station I listen too, and I started to think about this question, I really wish they had spent more time talking about it. But what they were talking about was how its interesting to look at someone else's Bible and see what's highlighted or underline, and the notes or papers scribbled on and jammed inside it, that these things can be an intimate look at how God works and touches that person's heart.
It made me think of my great-grandmother, I was very small when she passed away, only five, but I remember her very well and her Bible. I don't know who has her Bible now, but I wish I did I would love to see again. I can remember pretty vividly, her reading to me from it as a little girl. One time in particular that I remember is she was reading the story of the crossing of the Red Sea to me and my younger cousin. I remember as she read to us I saw that she had written notes, and 'colored' in her Bible, I asked her why she did that and if God would be mad at her for wrecking her bible, I had just recently gotten in trouble for coloring in my dad's bible so at five this seemed like a reasonable thought. She was so sweet, I miss her, she explained to me she didn't color in the Bible but marked important things that God wanted her to remember. That was the first time I had ever seen writing or highlighting in a Bible. I can remember the next day playing with her Bible, flipping through the pages and seeing everywhere she marked and asking her to read some of the passages that were marked in the bright yellow highlighter that had faded to an almost orange in many places over time. Looking back, I must have worn her out with all my questions! Her Bible showed me what was important in her life, many of the versus she marked were encouraging, and some were about mourning and loss.
After remembering all of that and thinking on it, and on my own Bibles, I wondered what my Bibles would say about me, what someone else would see flipping through it. I wondered what would my granddaughter remember about my Bible when she was grown. I don't write much in any of my Bibles, and I don't highlight much either. But am I robbing myself? Am I robbing my children and grandchildren? There was a certain sense of joy and pride in spending that time getting know to my great-grandma by looking through her Bible, getting to know her heart and how God spoke to her through His word, and honestly it had a profound effect on my life, it gave me a sense of direction and something to aspire to. I wanted even at five to be a Godly woman like her when I grew up, and now I am wondering if by using technology versus a physical Bible if I am stealing that same direction that she gave to me from someone else in my family line?
Right now if someone asked me to see my Bible and tried to discern what kind of heart I had from looking at it I would look poor indeed. It's never too late too change though. I can start today on leaving behind some seeds. God willing it will bear fruit the way my grandmother's Bible did with me. I am praying to be better, to do better, and hopefully bear fruit that glorifies my Father in heaven.
Jeremiah 9:20
Now, you women, hear the word of The Lord; open your ears to the words of his mouth. Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.
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