For my daughter Jericho’s high school graduation, I
cross-stitched a beautiful rendering of the old hymn, “Standing On the
Promises.” In the background is the cross, in gorgeous greens, blues, and purples,
trimmed in gold. Over the cross are the words of the hymn in a rich, deep violet. I
stitched the word "standing" nine times on the completed piece.
Five months after I gave Jericho the cross-stitched “Standing on the Promises,”
she was back at home from college for a year, recuperating from a devastating injury. We
converted the downstairs den into a bedroom for her, since she could not get to her former
bedroom upstairs. Once we’d settled her in, she asked me to fetch some items from her
old room.
As I was collecting Jericho’s things, the cross-stitched picture stopped me dead in
my tracks. Standing. Standing. STANDING. I wanted to fling it against the wall. At that
time, we were not sure if Jericho would ever be standing again, and my spirit was aching
and bitter. How ironic to have spent hours of work on a picture that would mock
Jericho’s inability to stand every time she looked at it!
Nevertheless, I brought the cross-stitching down with the other items, and I hung it on
the wall of Jericho’s new room. Neither of us ever spoke of it.
Now, with five years of hindsight, I cherish that cross-stitching, which currently hangs
on the wall of Jericho’s own apartment. Back when her injury was new, and my own
spirit was still raw, I was focusing only on the word "standing". I have learned
to change my focus: standing on the PROMISES. The promises! His promises like “I will
never leave you or forsake you,” and “Nothing can separate us from the love of
Christ” will be around long after the threads of my cross-stitching have turned to
dust.
Jan is a Christian who has traveled through sorrow and
depression, and has found victory and grace. She dedicates all writings to her Heavenly
Father. Contact Jan for writing projects at jackerso@remc11.k12.mi.us
Copywrite Jan Ackerson--2006
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