“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
A GIRL, A TREE, AND THE BOOK OF PSALMS
My dad’s business sent us, mom, sister Laurel, three months old, and me to Rio de Janeiro from 1948-1954. Upon our return from the color, music, and beauty of Rio we moved to Wichita, Kansas during the McCarthy era. I was told I wasn’t an American (I am, was, and will be) and spoke with an accent (we lived in Rio and my father insisted we speak Portuguese), so I was bullied.
In comes the Bible. My Mississippi Baptist grandmother and grandfather gave me a Bible for my birthday. I was very lonely and would climb the big welcoming elm tree with my King James Bible each summer morning as soon as it was light, and on weekends during the school year. As I would weep, I read the Psalms of David and felt God’s presence in the Scripture as I saw the man after God’s own heart and David’s struggles and successes and was comforted. I particularly clung to Psalm 22 as my strength, hope, and courage. I did find friends and one took me to church with her where I heard scripture, sang in the choir, and went to Sunday School. My parents were unbelievers.
If ever anyone doubts that God can call and choose him or her, look to the Bible and the Psalms.
All my life the Psalms comforted me, through the loss of my son and sister 11 months apart. Then a friend invited me to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and I learned about Jesus, my Savior who died, arose, ascended, and intercedes for me. And, I had a role model in Rosemary who showed me the unconditional love of Christ with “skin on.”
I no longer climb trees, and elms are dead, and that dear Bible of tears is long gone, but the foundation laid for me in the tree with the Bible is sure, for it is on Christ I stand.—Pam
P.S. from Rosemary: If loved ones have been taken from you, get into a Bible-teaching church where believers can surround you with Christ’s love and companionship.
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