journey onWord with us

It happened over 10 years ago.  Our daughter was home for a summer visit and was parking her car every night in our driveway.  She was out one evening at the home of a friend who was hosting a dinner party.  We knew they would talk and catch up for hours, so we left the lights on, the front door unlocked and went to bed.  At 5:45 the next morning, we were awakened by pounding on the front door.  I jumped out of bed and looked out the window to see who in the world it could be.  What I saw was a police car with lights flashing parked right behind our daughter’s car.  Her window was smashed and glass covered the driveway.  We rushed for the stairs, but instinctively glanced into our daughter’s room as we passed her door. The bed had not been slept in … it was empty.

Have you ever experienced fear?  Of course … we all have.  Have you ever experienced absolute terror?  Mike and I did that summer morning.  Our minds raced and no matter which direction they went, we always arrived at the worst possible scenario as we made our way to the front door.  I remember shaking, feeling as if it was all I could do to remain standing. I was terrified.  Why?  Because we actually thought we may have lost our most cherished possession … our daughter.

What would you say your most cherished possession is?  It’s likely a family member, but there are some who may claim their car, a boat, their diamond ring or dream house!  Sounds kinda shallow, yes?  Now before you start thinking, “I see where she is going with this blog.  What is truly important to me in this world? Yeah, yeah, I get it,” let me tell you that is not where I’m going.  For some reason, when I thought about this story again yesterday, it hit me…

I am somebody’s most cherished possession.

I am God’s most valued and cherished possession.  I am so dear to Him that:

He never leaves me.
He protects me.
He listens to me.
He has great compassion and care for me.
He blesses me beyond my understanding.
He would do anything for me…even to the point of giving His only Son to die for me on the Cross.

As my thoughts began to form for this post and these words began to take shape, I desired a piece of Scripture which clearly spoke the critical truth which had hit me earlier.  My heart landed on a passage that is so familiar, but is also so clear and bold…

For God so loved the world (that’s me and you) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NIV)

My story ends like this … The police had been called to a neighbor’s home because their car had been broken into.  As the officer cruised our neighborhood, he saw that our daughter’s car had also been vandalized. He pulled into our driveway needing her to identify all that had been stolen.  And where was our daughter?  She was asleep in the recliner in front of the TV where she had been since she arrived home safely much earlier. That is, until her parents who were screaming her name throughout the house woke her!

Our most cherished possession got the hug of her life that early summer morning, and her mother has a forever vivid illustration and reminder that:

I am somebody’s most cherished possession.