I love a treasure hunt!
I always have.
As a child, fishing in the creek next to our farm
felt like that to me.
My daddy taught me how to look for where the fish would hide.
What I loved most was ‘finding the foam’ by creek’s edge
with a gentle current leading to it.
I’d imagine ‘my fish’ hiding there, hungry,
and put my home-made hook into the spot,
waiting for the thrilling tug that rewarded my patience
with a wiggly meal I could bring home with pride.
The same ‘treasure hunt’
is what I feel when I’m in the mood
to go ‘Thrifting’ …
If you’re patient – and I usually am –
and know how to look – and I do –
you can find amazing treasures
in a thrift store.
So many of my favorite things
were found at bargain prices,
there.
As I’ve walked out my life story,
which has been quite a story…
(there’s a reason my favorite mug says:
“Life is a story – make yours a best seller”),
I’ve realized this:
The greatest treasure hunt,
with the largest rewards of all
is the search for Wisdom.
Proverbs tells us
that ‘Lady Wisdom’ is not ‘cheap’ or ‘easy.’
She never prostitutes Herself
to the disinterested, or inauthentic…
so there is an earnest search involved.
Proverbs 2 starts with:
My child, will you treasure Wisdom?
Then and only then will you acquire it.
So train your heart to listen…
Cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight…
Keep seeking it like a man would seek for sterling silver,
searching in hidden places for cherished treasure.
When I became a single mom of three boys
at the young age of 31,
my desperate search for Wisdom
began.
I found two guiding scriptures
that I prayed every day
because I knew the task required of me
was way over my head,
or my ability, or capacity to accomplish.
And my deepest desire
was to not ‘screw up’ my beautiful boys
who had an extra lot to face in their young lives
because their parents were splitting up.
These two scriptures were found in
I Kings 3 and James 1.
In I Kings 3, King Solomon –
“The wisest man who ever lived” –
was asked by God one night,
“Solomon, what do you want most from Me?”
And his ‘wise’ answer was basically this:
God, I’m a grown man, and already a King,
but I feel like a little child
with a huge responsibility
who doesn’t know what to do…
I don’t know how to begin this task
and I don’t know how to end it…
So I am desperately seeking WISDOM
and discernment
to make sound judgments and good decisions
for those I’m responsible to lead
so things will turn out well.
So PLEASE – give me ‘a listening ear
and a hearing heart’
(That’s Hebrew’s meaning for “Wisdom”)
that hears from heaven
and responds with obedience on earth
to accomplish what is best
in every circumstance I am facing.
And scripture records that God was SO pleased with Solomon’s request
that He gave Him everything else he could’ve asked for as well…
I made this prayer my very own
because that’s exactly how I felt.
And you know what?
God was faithful!
Though I often felt like I was stumbling my way forward
just doing the best I knew how
and not always clear if it was right…
I look back and see God’s faithful hand
guiding, helping, directing
in answer to my prayers…
And He took care of my sons
and raised them with me, sometimes despite me,
into beautiful young men
who are no longer so young. 🙂
The other promise I leaned on
was found in James 1:
Which tells us God is a generous father
Who gives us wisdom
where ever we need it
(because we don’t have it)
without finding fault
(which always meant so much).
So I took Him at His word
and reminded Him and myself daily
that this was truth.
How does this apply to my ‘healing journey’ at present?
Abundantly.
As anyone who’s been through a similar diagnosis will know
this is an often over-whelming journey.
With so many voices…
so many paths…
so many decisions…
and so many consequences.
My need for Wisdom’s guidance
has never been greater!
(Except for when three precious lives were at stake,
not just my own.)
Now again…
I find my search rewarded
so generously
as I stumble forward.
Proverbs 2:6-8
Wisdom is a gift from a generous God,
and every word He speaks
is full of revelation
and becomes a fountain of understanding within you.
For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of Wisdom
made accessible to his godly lovers.
He becomes your PERSONAL BODYGUARD
as you follow His ways,
PROTECTING and GUARDING you
as you choose what is right.
Proverbs 1:33
The one who always listens to me
will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace.
Free from fear, confident and courageous,
you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.
(WOW – I couldn’t ask for more).
As I’ve stumbled forward
on this path toward healing
from a cancer diagnosis…
I know I’ve been carefully led
though I’ve often had to value trust over clarity…
Even daring to ‘trust stupidly’
in the eyes of others
at times.
I’ve engaged for several months
in only natural remedies
finding expert help,
new strength,
vital rest,
good nutrition,
and more body-awareness
than I’ve ever known.
More recently,
with my body as prepared as possible
I’ve been led to a season
of more conventional medicine,
at lower doses than normal,
mixed with a particular immune-therapy
targeted toward my specific diagnosis
and integrated with natural preventions.
This decision was one of my hardest…
yet a peace that passes understanding
has guarded my mind
and stabilized my heart
as I made it,
and move forward.
(This is the reason for a pregnant pause in my writing this blog).
I’ve received a fresh arsenal of promises
for my current journey…
my favorite being:
Psalm 25:21
Your PERFECTION and FAITHFULNESS
are my BODYGUARDS.
For you are my HOPE
and I TRUST in you
as my only PROTECTION.
As I submitted to a ‘port placement’ surgery
I was aware of and repeated this promise over and over.
Three days later, as my port was used for the first time,
my nurse stared at it and said,
“How many days ago was this put in?”
“Three,” I said.
She shook her heard, looking closer,
And stated,
“This port was put in so “PERFECTLY”…
and your body has healed around it SO WELL
that it looks like what we usually see at TWO WEEKS out.”
God’s PERFECTION…
And His FAITHFULNESS…
Are my BODYGUARDS.
I cannot be thankful enough
for the benefits of trusting
and following…
And the generous giving
of the TREASURES OF WISDOM
I have so desperately needed
and continue to find.
SURELY
Goodness and mercy
and God’s protection…
follow me
every day of my life.
