A life ago when most of our seven children were still at home, and the majority of the dwellers were teens and pre-teens, I was savoring the early morning peace of coffee and scripture when Isaiah 50:4 jumped off the page into my life. I will paraphrase here because every single bible translation has just a little tweak (and, besides, I think we are supposed to do that.) “The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them, morning after morning…”
When I read this scripture I knew it had been written by Mrs. Isaiah for morning reveille. We lived in a large old house (1910) that had been home to orchard managers, plant managers, and had last served as the rectory and offices for the Catholic church across the street…it was meant for us. The bedrooms were situated upstairs, down in the basement and on the first floor. From command central, in the breakfast room, I would give the morning call to rise, calling down the heater vent (for the cellar dwellers), up the stairs for the rest assuming that the first floor resident knew this was meant for them too.
The children are all married now and have their own households…and their own crises. So, I find myself sending out scriptures or sayings or poems to get them through a day, an hour or sometimes just the next five minutes. I realized that my Word to the Weary has a new purpose and has just continued in another form; more than ever, it is also meant for me. I thought my age (and honorable stature) permitted me to be done with doing…not so. I, of course, got nudged by scripture…Psalm 92:14 : In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap..”
I sort of like being full of sap.
Amen for today and Be Holy
A Word to the Weary 