Hebrews 12:4-154 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled
Romans 5: 2-5
We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
I have a great-aunt by marriage, Clarice. She lives in heaven now, but she was such a wonderful woman. Laughter, love and straight talk were a large part of Clarice’s life. My youngest great-uncle used to tease Clarice and say, “I have 12 brothers and sisters. 6 are Baptist and 6 are Christian.” Then, he’d look to Clarice, to her reaction. He enjoyed that old joke around her all the time.
Clarice wanted to have children, but her husband was chronically ill and they never conceived. He didn’t live to be old, but Clarice really did live to be old and she had a wonderful life filled with good choices. Clarice did not grow bitter, but blessed and busy. Clarice never lacked for children, she and Walton had a long hallway covered with photos of nieces and nephews. I believe Clarice was as close to a saint as I’ve ever met. She spoke her mind & her paths were straight. She was an irritant to the less well behaved cousins.
Clarice believed in disciple-ship as she took in a troubled nephew, so a young man who couldn’t obtain a high school diploma in the bigger city, could graduate from her small town with the help of the local principal and Clarice’s encouragement. He lived with her for a year. Many nieces and nephews went to college because they had an Aunt Clarice.
When one of the wealthy brother-in-laws became immersed in an East Texas shady charlatan using religion for money, the youngest brother-in-law went to get Clarice and get him out of there. Clarice, when asked, cried, “Why me?” She was assured she was the one to be relied upon to free the uncle. So, she and the youngest brother, went on a long car trip that very day and brought back the relieved uncle. :)
Because of Clarice, young women in the family had beautiful wedding receptions. Newlyweds were given new living room furniture. Sisters lived on the four corners of the same street and ran a dress shop together, owned and worked in by Clarice. As I go along in life, I am encouraged by her memory, her love for the Lord and the joy she gave and received.
I have one more favorite and precious memory of Aunt Clarice. She was ill and having hospice care for her. What was supposed to be weeks, turned into months as Aunt Clarice was in a coma. I sent her a letter for her next-door sisters to read to her - a thank you for the many kind things she'd done for my mother, uncle and family. I loved her. One night, no one had reported Aunt Clarice was any closer to dying, about 2 or 3 in the morning - I sat up in tears from sleep. I could feel Aunt Clarice's soul going to heaven - the joy she felt couldn't be compared to a wedding day or winning the lottery - the joy of discovering all of God's promises were true. Jesus Christ and His Kingdom were in front of her forever. The next morning, the call came Aunt Clarice had, in truth, passed on.
Blessed be You, Lord Jesus.
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