Our house is located on the ravine that Hickory Creek runs through! We have lived here almost two years and we have never really taken the opportunity to walk along the creek in the ravine. Yesterday was a beautiful day so after church and a soccer game we decided to take a little family walk! So, off we went. The woods were beautiful! The green of the newly budding trees is unlike any other green. (Maybe it just looks different because winter is so gray.) The ground was soft from all of the rain that Spring brought with it. The Creek was gently flowing over fallen trees and the banks were full of tiny little wild flowers that were yellow, a soft lavender, and a brilliant white. It was quiet except for the occasional "Look at that"! It felt as if we were miles from civilization yet we were right in the middle of Stevensville.
Caleb decided he wanted to see how cold the water was. He found a spot where he could get to the water, but the banks were a little slick because the rain had turned the soft dirt and sand into a gritty mud! He got the bright idea that David could hold one end of a stick and then he could hold on to the other end and lean over to touch the water! I'm sure you can tell what is coming next! About half way between standing and bending over to touch the water...Caleb's stick cracked loudly and then broke sending him chest deep into the creek! I thought David was going to "bust a gut" he was laughing so hard! After the initial shock of the cold water Caleb started laughing then we all laughed until we finally got him up the bank and on to dry land! What a moment! This is one of those times that you wish you could bottle the laughter and the feeling you have as you stand with your family wishing that this moment could last forever!
As we walked back toward home and a warm towel for Caleb we passed huge trees growing along the bank of the creek and my heart was reminded of a scripture that is one of my favorites! In Psalm 1: 1-3 it says: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." What a beautiful picture the word of God paints for us. Every time I pass a tree planted by a body of water this picture comes to mind, and reminds me that I must continue to be rooted in the word of God, meditate on it, and delight in it!
Yesterday on that walk I delighted in many things...my boys, my husband, the creation, the Creator, and the word of God. And, I was humbled at the way God speaks to His beloved children in the simplest of moments! I am sure that my heavenly Father delighted, as we did, in our Sunday evening walk! I could almost hear his footsteps ahead of us as we made our way through Hickory Creek ravine, stopping for just an instant to laugh with us as Caleb plunged into the water of the creek He created so many thousands of years before!
Our walk ended with Jacob and Caleb both in Hickory Creek! (What boy can walk along a creek bank and not end up in the creek?) They decided that swimming home might be more fun! I am looking forward to many more walks, laughs, and opportunities to see God's hand in the creation! But, most of all I am looking forward to the reminders the Lord grants as I meditate on His word allowing Him to walk with me throughout my ordinary, or should I say extraordinary, moments of life!
Posted on
Mon, May 4, 2009
by Crystal Colp