If every life were written in a storybook, would each and every page be highlighted with cheerful moments and a problem – free existence? When you look at the cover of a storybook, can you tell all that much about the contents of the book?
The truth is that all of our days are written in God’s book of life. (Psalm 139: 16) It is not a storybook, although it tells the story of our lives. It is not a book that records only cheerful moments. Nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about life on this earth being a life without some heartaches.
In John 16:33, we read the following: “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” God is there to comfort us in the midst of our troubles. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we carry the peace of Christ within our hearts.
We are called to be of ‘good cheer’. We are called to lift one another up. We are called to pray for one another. Everyone needs prayer!
You never know when you meet someone in life what page in the book they are at. Some people work very hard at concealing their pain and heartaches. Some people flaunt all of their problems in public view on a daily basis. Because of this, it is best to be kind and not make any assumptions.
When we follow the rules for how God has asked us to live, we do in fact find a joy that overcomes many adversities. When we trust that God is ultimately in control of any given situation, we can stop trying to fix everything in the world all by ourselves. When we treat our fellow man as we have been taught to treat our neighbors, we learn that life is a celebration in learning to love one another.
Furthermore, we discover that for every rain puddle, there is a patch of bright blue sky. We discover compassion; we come to understand that life is full of raindrops and teardrops for us all.
It is a beautiful sound to hear the rain as the clouds weep above the earth. The rain is cleansing, like our teardrops. After the rain, the sun shines again. It is so very beautiful to see the earth after a rain shower, fresh and new.
Imagine a world where each person helps another to carry their buckets of rainwater, splashing all about, waiting for the return of the sunshine. A rainbow appears, for that is God’s promise to be with us always. It sounds like a storybook, does it not? And yet, it is true. God is always with us just as He has promised. When we live as God has asked us to live, God’s Kingdom of love becomes manifest in us. This is the Kingdom of love that God has asked us to share with one another. This is the Kingdom of love that changes the world.
Our book of life is a very beautiful book, more beautiful than any storybook ever written. The pages are creased with God’s own loving hands. He has labored over this book every moment of our lives, long before we took our first breath. When we look back at the pages, we see God’s Holy touch. We feel His incredible Fatherly love. We understand what true love really is.
No, life is not a fairytale or a storybook of happy days, without a shadow of discontent. Our books of life are so much more than that. It is God Himself who has crafted our books with His own divine mastery. Every page is perfect. There are no mistakes. We see mistakes, but God does not. He sees His beautiful children, full of light, full of love. Through the eyes of love, all things are beautiful. In the lens of God’s love, we are more than what we seem to ourselves. We see the flaws and the broken places. God places His hand upon the cracks and crevices of all that is broken, and His healing hands cover our wounds.
Love is not always an easy thing. And yet, it is the only thing that matters. When we leave this world for heaven, it is our love letters that we will leave behind. Make no mistake, these letters will endure for all time.
Many things in this world will change, some good, some not so good. Love is the only thing that can change our hearts and the world for the better. A thousand years from now, ten thousand years from now, love is the ink that will remain in the pages of our books. Everything else will pass away.
As we rise each day to face a new morning, may we remember that Holy ink marks our passage here. May we know that our Books of Life and our days upon this earth have been blessed by God. It is a true storybook of love letters, engraved in the high courts of heaven; it is God’s very own book to treasure forever and ever. How wonderful is that?
The Clouds in August
The clouds, they float
in the August sky
just passing time.
They are enchanted
to float in a sea
of endless blue.
There is no need
for charts, or markers;
it is an open sea.
Sometimes, these clouds
sink low above the ocean
and form a mountain chain.
It is good to pause
at the end of the day
and gaze upon these mountains.
Could it be if clouds could sleep
that they would fall upon the ocean
as night grew near?
Like majestic mountains
they rest
as the sun sinks low.
The tangerine sky
holds us captive
as the mountains give way to darkness.
Oh, the clouds, they float
in an August sky
just passing time.
Another day ends
and September is that much closer;
an open sea awaits.
All that endless blue
uncharted water,
just waiting to be discovered.
I particuarly appreciate your uplifting poem and glorious cloudscape!
Thank you! Clouds are awesome! I remember as a child watching the clouds and dreaming dreams. It is always good to dream new dreams, and I believe that God often inspires us to do just that. On an open sea, we set sail each day, doing the very best we can. And although there are stormy seas at times, God rides out the storm with us. In this way, with faith, our stories are steeped in love. We are never alone. God is right there with us.
You’re welcome, Linda!
We may not have a storybook life but we all have a story to tell.
Our stories are important and they matter to God. With His help and guidance, we begin anew each morning; He blesses our stories with His wisdom and grace.
I love thinking that way “our Holy ink marks” such good thoughts and so true.
I was canoeing on the water tonight under a red sky that made all the water blush as well…Me and no camera. just a fishing rod and memories. My thoughts reading that good poem
That is such a wonderful comment! I can picture the water as you have described it. Blessings abound all around us!
It must be a special blessing to live by the sea. And to see the sea you see every sunrise and evening sky above, full of the treasures provided by the Almighty! Thank you for this narrative and poetry.
God has created such a mosaic of beautiful things in creation. He created the mountains and the oceans. He created the forests and the fields. It is all there for us to enjoy and for our provision. Our cups of blessings do overflow!
It is incredibly wonderful, and I loved your poem!!!
We are blessed! Each day is a fresh page of new beginnings. When we put our faith and trust in God, anything is possible!
Psalm 139:16
Amen! Wishing you blessings!
I love to think of God as the author of my life, the finisher of my faith, and that He has my name written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. Each day is a fresh new page, and God is directing what will be written. I love the poem and the mention of September……my favorite month. Thank you Linda.
What a wonderful comment! September is a beautiful month, a good month for new beginnings!
Lovely verse, Linda. “There is a crack, a crack in everything /That’s how the light gets in.” ~Leonard Cohen. Hope your week brings many smiles! 🌞
Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful week as well! 🙂
A beautiful combination of prose and verse, Linda. I love the gentleness of your reflections.
Thank you! I do appreciate your kind comment! 🙂
Love the poem Linda. And how this post reminds us that nobody lives without their struggles.
I am glad you liked the poem! 🙂 Everyone does have struggles. Knowing that God cares for us through it all is a great comfort. Also, God blesses us with friends and family to help and guide us.
Your lovely post reminded me of the song, “Storyteller” by Morgan Harper Nichols and Jamie Grace. God is a master at putting all the puzzle pieces of our life together and making us storytellers. Thank you, Linda for this inspirational post. Love your poem and photos.💙
I listened to that song last night. Thank you for sharing it with me. You are so very right. We can trust that God is with us in all of our stories and seasons of life.
Such a beautiful post, Linda. Thank you for the reminders. I particularly love that about us not knowing what page someone else is on–and the lovely poem.
Each and every book is important to God. Each and every book is a masterpiece. It really is something to stop and make you think. Every life is this amazing and incredible gift with so much potential. Thank you Luanne!!!
Lovely poem, and beautiful clouds, Linda!
Thank you! I hope you have a very good week! 🙂
Thank you! I hope you do, too! 😊
Linda, I love the word picture you paint of the author of Life, writing our story- “Our book of life is a very beautiful book, more beautiful than any storybook ever written. The pages are creased with God’s own loving hands. He has labored over this book every moment of our lives, long before we took our first breath. When we look back at the pages, we see God’s Holy touch. We feel His incredible Fatherly love. We understand what true love really is.” How boring a book only filled with cheerful moments would be. The characters would remain static. How grateful I am that God is the author of my story and not me!
God’s mercy and love are without end. We are His children! I think of the little handprint artwork that we saved from our kids when they were little. I believe that God takes the same delight in our ‘handprints’. He is the author of life itself and every single handprint and story is one of a kind.
I love that Linda! Thank you for sharing.
🙂 🙂 🙂
So well written, Linda. Grateful that I can read your “page”. God’s grip – Alan
Thank you! I am grateful that I can read your ‘page’! 🙂
you’ve shared your heart through clouds of love!
🙂 🙂 🙂 That is a very nice way of saying it!
glad, as you said it so beautifully 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
“Holy ink marks our passage here.” Love that imagery, Linda. Each of our life-stories IS written uniquely, separately, and rightly by our Father’s perfect and loving hand. We’d do well to appreciate and esteem his workmanship. (Lord, remind me to appreciate each chapter of my life and not wish for someone else’s!)
Yes! Every chapter is important! And, every book is unique. You make a very good point. We must cherish the pages of our own stories, and not compare them to others.