Isn’t it funny how you can look back on things and see them differently after you are grown?
Back in the ancient times of the 1970s, there were no SUVS. When we went on family trips, we rode in one of Papaw’s station wagons. At least once a year, we all piled in one and headed south and east to Cades Coves in the Smokey Mountains. We always packed a picnic. Sometimes Papaw would stop at the KFC in Maryville and pick up a bucket of chicken to have with it.
But one trip was totally different.
When I was 8 years old, we all piled into Papaw’s station wagon, but this time we headed north and west. Not only had I never been in that direction, but I had never been on such a long trip.
“Are we there yet?” and “I’m hungry,” emanated from the back seat several times. Yes, it was yours truly. I was ready to dig into the packed picnic basket or go by a KFC.
When we finally reached our destination, I was surprised to see a graveyard. But this wasn’t any graveyard. It was the gravesite of Sergeant Alvin C York. Apparently, Papaw was a big fan of his. And why wouldn’t he be? Alvin York was a native Tennessee boy was a WWI hero. Kinda cool huh? Read up on him some time.
During the drive there, Mamaw Myrtle/Girdle sat on the front seat. I still remember seeing her lean against the passenger side door with her arm resting on it. After driving for about an hour, we stopped for a bathroom break.
That’s when I heard Mamaw Myrtle/Girdle exclaim, “My door wasn’t latched!” She had no idea her door wasn’t completely shut. Unlike today, there wasn’t anything in the car to tell us a door was “ajar.”
My imaginative brain went to work. I envisioned the door flinging open and my sweet Mamaw falling out of the moving car. Needless to say, it frightened me. But it didn’t frighten Mamaw Myrtle/Girdle. She simply laughed and said. “God was holding the door shut for me so I could lean on it.”
Then I envisioned Jesus pushing against the other side of Mamaw’s door as He prevented it from opening. Looking back, I see it differently. Now I see her not just leaning on the car door, but also on His arms. His everlasting arms.
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV).
Did you know the hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” is based on this verse?
The Lord gave Mamaw Myrtle/Girdle refuge and she wasn’t even aware of it as He was doing it. In fact, the same can be said for us. We lean on His arms whether we are aware of it or not; every day and every second of every day. And like Mamaw, we would be amazed if we could see what He has kept away from us that we had no idea was even a danger to us at that time.
Let’s go a little further with this. You will never be so far away that His arms can’t reach you.
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Psalm 139:7 (KJV).
While I still miss my Mamaw, I feel comforted knowing she is resting in those everlasting arms today.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.