Happy Endings

The following is another excerpt from my writings on the book of Job. I love Easter ... it is a happy ending to a difficult week.

"After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had know him before came and ate with him at his house. They comforted him and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first."

Don't you love happy endings? Do you believe in a happy ending for yourself? I am sure that Job never thought the day would come … perhaps you are in a similar situation. I have seen many of my trials turn into blessings. I am reminded of the messianic prophecy that tells us that the Messiah will "comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve". He will "bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair". It says "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor".

In the months following my wife Ellen's death God spoke to me often. One day as I was praying God said to me "I am sending you a Ruth". You know I really can't describe the emotions that went through my mind … a kind of disbelief that anything so wonderful could happen to me … Ruth was the epitome of a woman. Well, later that year, God brought Ann into my life. In many ways she was nothing like what I expected in a woman but in every way she was a Ruth. Our courtship was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I experienced levels of joy that had escaped me for so long …Ann made me feel so young and alive. I had such little understanding of how much of a blessing she would be to me. We were married in the following year. For the last seven years I can say, with Job, that the Lord blessed the latter part of my life … with a wife that is a servant in the best sense of serving … a woman who's inner beauty and integrity are matchless … and a sister who loves God.

You know it was funny how Ann and I met all over again. We had been acquainted for almost 20 years but had not seen each other for about five years. One day we, by chance, ran into each other in front of The Dime Store where she was shopping and I was just happening by.I wrote this poem at the onset of our courtship.


Love at Second Sight

What drew me to her I do not know.Spirit? Soul? Flesh? A mystery to me still.On that day I saw her again ... for the very first time.Could this be love ... at second sight?

That day was bright ... my heart was dark.Her skin was fair ... my soul was heavy.A spark ignited and my spirit soared.Could this be love ... at second sight?

The summer passed and fall had come.My mind wandered still to that that day in June,When my heart was touched by her lovely smile.Could this be love ... at second sight?

As grief passed and courage grew,I saw her again and then I knew ...That my heart longed to know her heart.Could this be love ... at second sight?

Mourning exchanged for joy.Loneliness turned into happiness.Feelings I can neither explain nor express.Could this be love ... at second sight?

Time goes on and passion grows.Where we'll go ... who really knows.My heart and my mind yet question still ...Could this be love ... at second sight?

You know when you are experiencing hardship, and wonder if your trial will ever end, it is good to remember Job. How God was faithful to him. How God blessed the latter part of his life more than the first. Do not lose heart. God does care and He has a purpose and a plan for your life. Open your eyes and begin to see your situation with eyes of redemption. Know that He can and He will redeem your darkest times and most difficult situations to give you beauty for ashes.

8 comments:

  1. Amen on this great post, Bob. Wow. Great true stories you have. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. It is also good to remember what God has already done. I often lose sight of that.

    "He sought me, and He bought me, with His redeeming blood".

    I'm along way from where I was but sometimes I focus on how far I have to go instead of on what Jesus is doing now.

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  3. Several post I have read, and a meeting 2 weeks ago with a group of pastors indicate trials and challenges are common throughout the body, especially right now. Thanks for your sharing and reminding me how God always has our best in mind - even when we can't see it.

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  4. Happy Easter to you, KB!

    I agree with Karen about your stories.

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  5. That's awesome, Dad!

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  6. Bob,
    Hey there! I'm Jason, and I'm your co-writer for "Pastor Hank" as one of the SBG's for Brandilyn Collins.

    I thought I'd introduce myself while checking out your blog. This post was especially encouraging, as I'm going through quite a few trials right now. I'm losing my job in September, for no really good reasons. Then there was some severe circumstances at work (I'm in medicine) that were very difficult this week. Someone told me yesterday that we can comfort others out of our own suffering. Thank you for sharing out of your trials, and the joy that the Lord brought you. I rejoice in what He's done for you, and I'm holding on to that same promise from Job.

    Talk to you later.

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