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Standing on the Promises
by Jan Ackerson For my daughter Jerichos high school graduation, I cross-stitched a beautiful rendering of the old hymn, Standing On the Promises. In the background is the cross, in gorgeous greens, blues, and purples, trimmed in gold. Over the cross are the words of the hymn in a rich, deep violet. I stitched the word "standing" nine times on the completed piece. Five months after I gave Jericho the cross-stitched Standing on the Promises, she was back at home from college for a year, recuperating from a devastating injury. We converted the downstairs den into a bedroom for her, since she could not get to her former bedroom upstairs. Once wed settled her in, she asked me to fetch some items from her old room. As I was collecting Jerichos things, the cross-stitched picture stopped me dead in my tracks. Standing. Standing. STANDING. I wanted to fling it against the wall. At that time, we were not sure if Jericho would ever be standing again, and my spirit was aching and bitter. How ironic to have spent hours of work on a picture that would mock Jerichos inability to stand every time she looked at it! Nevertheless, I brought the cross-stitching down with the other items, and I hung it on the wall of Jerichos new room. Neither of us ever spoke of it. Now, with five years of hindsight, I cherish that cross-stitching, which currently hangs on the wall of Jerichos own apartment. Back when her injury was new, and my own spirit was still raw, I was focusing only on the word "standing". I have learned to change my focus: standing on the PROMISES. The promises! His promises like I will never leave you or forsake you, and Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ will be around long after the threads of my cross-stitching have turned to dust. Jan is a Christian who has traveled through sorrow and depression, and has found victory and grace. She dedicates all writings to her Heavenly Father. Check out Jan's website at www.1hundred-words.com Copywrite Jan Ackerson--2006 Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |