Blessed Assurance

Advent Devotional by Joan Osler

Read Psalms 103:19-22

“In my distress I cry to the Lord, that he may answer me.”

—Psalm 120:1—

My mother’s birthday fell on Dec. 23 and she usually came to our home to celebrate with our family. The year 1971 marked her 80th birthday, so my brother and his wife from Seattle, Wash., joined us for the occasion. Mother had been enjoying an early Christmas gift, a beautiful Christmas Amaryllis plant. Its beautiful blooms lasted most of the season. However, after it faded, I hurriedly carried it to our basement, carelessly putting it on the shelf and promptly forgetting it. The months went by and in August Mother quietly slipped away from us to go to her Heavenly Home.
Christmas came again, and with the help of Bill and Amy, our two youngest children, we finished decorating the Christmas tree. I sent the children to bed and then sat down wearily in Mother’s favorite chair. A wave of sadness came over me and I whispered a prayer, “If only I knew Mother was happy and I would see her again.” After a few moments, I got up from the chair and began carrying boxes to the basement. For some reason, I reached to the back of the shelf and found a flower pot. When I pulled it out, I discovered the Amaryllis plant was starting to grow again.

Prayer:
Dear God, help us to remember Your promises which tell us that we will have eternal life if we love You and strive to do Your will. Send the Holy Spirit to us when we are feeling lost and lonely. We ask this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen