Elizabeth’s Time to Move In

 Six years ago when Frank died, Elizabeth’s family wanted her to begin thinking about moving in with them. At the time, Elizabeth still was comfortable driving, and she loved her local church. The ladies’ class at her church deeply loved the Lord, enjoyed studying the Word of God together, and did they ever have fun! Every Thursday night was game night, and the ladies took turns hosting it. In addition to her family, how those ladies had helped Elizabeth through the terrible days of sorrow and loneliness after the death of her husband.

Then it happened late in February. Elizabeth had a motor vehicle accident. She thought that she was in her own lane; however, eye witnesses all agreed that her car drifted over the center line as it sideswiped the oncoming car. From then on, Elizabeth was afraid to drive.

Elizabeth came to the place where she agreed that she shouldn’t live alone any longer. Though her family truly made her feel welcome, she would say, “I don’t want to be a burden.” Nothing could be further from the truth. It didn’t take long until she finally admitted that she was delighted to be around the happy noise and activity of her family. One of the favorite times of her day came when the family would gather for their ‘evening worship,’ as they called it. After the Bible reading, her son would ask his family if there are any prayer requests. One summer evening, her little five-year old grandson, Joshua, raised his hand. He had a prayer request. Being called on by his daddy, he spoke right up saying, “In children’s church my teacher said that God says to the snow, ‘Head on down to the world.’ I want God to send snow to us.” Smiles abounded. Several other prayer requests were taken, and a sweet time of prayer was enjoyed by the family. As soon as the prayer time concluded, before anyone could say a word, Josh ran to the window, peeked outside and said, “Not yet, but I still want it to snow.”

Later that night, Elizabeth looked up the word “snow” in her concordance.  There she found the verse to which her young grandchild referred. “God thundereth marvelously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend. For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth” (Job 37:5-6a).

Her sweet prayer time continued that night as she reflected on the blessings of belonging to her great and awesome God. The selling of her home had not been an easy thing for her to experience. The auction of her property had been too overwhelming for her to attend. She regretted crying most of the way to her son’s home, but the memories of most of her adult lifetime had taken place at that home. Now, after several months of adjusting, she looked with gladness around her little apartment just off the main living arrangement of her son and daughter-in-law’s home. Surely the same Lord that thunders marvelously with His voice and Who speaks to the weather systems is the same Lord that cares about her. What a blessing!

That night as she rested in her bed before falling asleep, her mind drifted back to the verse about the Lord speaking to the snow about being on the ground. Two more thoughts hit her. First, she no longer would be responsible for making sure that her sidewalks were clear of snow this next winter. Second, she thought, “If God speaks to the snow and it instantly obeys, then Elizabeth Marie, you better be so quick to behave and listen to the Lord, you old woman!” It would be amazing in the years ahead how many times Elizabeth Marie would think of the Lord speaking to the snow and the applications she found from this text.

Are you at the point where your family is talking to you about this same decision?  Whether you are a widow, a widower or still together as an older couple, I realize this brief article cannot decide the issue for you. But let me encourage you not to simply write off any suggestion from your family. Don’t become stubborn and refuse to talk about it. Share with your family the feelings you experiencing. Talk with your family about how hard it seems to you to leave your home. Be honest in talking about not wanting to be a burden, but also please listen to them. It may surprise you how smart your children really have become. Must be that they have been well-raised!

Aren’t you glad that you belong to the Lord? Don’t you wish everyone did?