A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

I couldn’t bear to change my one-a-day calendar from Monday to Tuesday. I didn’t want to be stuck in Monday mode, but the picture was so beautiful – an old grove of trees with brilliant spring flowers creeping up close to the trunks.

Easily distracted, the picture drew me back to it throughout the day. In my imagination, I was there under the trees. My eyes closed for a moment, and I could feel the rough bark of a tree trunk against my back. The warmth of the sun made me drowsy, and the book I’d been reading dropped into my lap. Intoxicating fragrance of warm flowers wafted over to me, and I felt myself drifting away.

The loud jangling of my phone brought me back to reality. I shook my head as if trying to wake up from a nap and grabbed the phone. Daydreams are not appropriate at work, I reminded myself, but I couldn’t help myself. Soon I was peaking at the picture once more. What fun! I could see myself ten years old again with my sister Amy and best friend Laurie. Oh what a great place to play; and before I knew it, I was romping around in flowers and summer sunshine.

Then I took a moment to read the verse that accompanied the picture. “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” Isaiah 49:16.

Was that God speaking? Yes, it was. He was encouraging the Children of Israel.

My ponderings took an entirely different twist. I hate having ink on my skin, but in rare instances when I mustn’t forget something, I’ll write on the palm of my hand. God was giving the Israelites a picture. He wouldn’t forget them. He didn’t just write; He carved the names of the Israelites onto the palms of His hands. Those names aren’t going anywhere. They are with God to stay.

Of course God doesn’t need to write things down in order to remember. After all, He’s God, but what a beautiful picture of how He keeps His children in mind.

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