Your Bible and You in 2014

When my husband, Barry, was alive, we had a custom of reading the Bible every night before we went to sleep. We always made God’s word the last word of the day. Starting in Genesis we read a chapter every night, reading aloud to each other, taking turns on alternate nights. It took us more than three years to read the entire Bible, but it felt so good when we made it through! Then the next night we would start back in Genesis again.

Since Barry has gone to be with the Lord, I have started a new custom. Every year I read through the Bible. As I read I underline and make some notes in the margins. Then, at years end, I give that Bible to one of my grandchildren. I started with the oldest and am working my way down to the youngest. Five down and eight to go (at least at this point --- smile).

At the end of this year, the Bible will go to my grandson, Joseph, who was named after my mother, Josephine. I’ll never forget how tickled and proud she was when she heard that a great-grandchild had been named after her! My mom went to heaven in 2006 and her Bible has been tucked away with my precious keepsakes since that time. Because this year’s Bible will go to Joseph, I thought that he should have his great-grandmother Josephine’s Bible. So I pulled it out of its secure spot and began reading the first four pages on January 1. Two days ago, as I picked up the Bible to read, an old tattered and yellowed bookmark fell out. On it was a note written by my Aunt Ruth, my mom’s sister:  “This was in our father’s Bible when he died on August 17, 1953 - with love from Ruth 8/16/76.” The bookmark had apparently been given as a gift to my mom on her 64th birthday.

The main content of the bookmark is a poem entitled, “My Bible and I” by an unknown author. I want to share that poem with you today.

We’ve traveled together
    My Bible and I,
Through all kinds of weather,
    With smile or with sigh!
In sorrow and sunshine,
    In tempest or calm!
Thy friendship unchanging,
  My lamp and my psalm.

We’ve traveled together,
  My Bible and I,
When life has grown weary,
  And death e’en was nigh!
But all through the darkness
  Of mist or of wrong,
I found there a solace,
  A prayer, and a song.

So now who shall part us,
  My Bible and I?
Shall “isms” or schisms,
  Or “new lights” who try?
Shall shadow for substance,
  Or stone for good bread
Supplant thy sound wisdom,
  Give folly instead?

Ah, no, my dear Bible,
  Exponent of light!
Thou sword of the Spirit,
  Put error to flight!
And still through life’s journey,
  Until my last sigh,
We’ll travel together,
 My Bible and I.

May your Bible be your faithful traveling companion through this new year and all through your life. I have found mine to be faithful through joys, sorrows, trials, temptations, sickness, grief, and loss that I felt I could not endure. Your Bible always has a word for you -- it is always the right word because it is God’s word. May you be blessed by that word in 2014 and in all the years to come until you are safe at home with the Lord.

with love,
~Suzie