Here's a simple little story I made up just today for an English assignment, a character sketch. Jemima (Job 42:12-15) is one of my favorite names for girls. =)
With sunlight softly filtering through vernal trees upon the golden braid bouncing on her back, Jemima skipped happily down the well-worn path beside her house. Mother had sent her on an errand with instructions to return home without dallying. Jemima was a sweetly obedient daughter who wanted to please her parents, so she hastened as well as she could. On her way, however, she intently eyed the grassy sides of the pathway for particularly special flowers. She stopped briefly now and then to carefully pluck the choicest ones from their growing place in the earth, ensuring that every stem was of equal length so a flawless bouquet would be created, and placed them gently in the wide pocket of her white pinafore. As Jemima continued on her way home, humming a tune she learned in Sunday school, she mentally pictured her perfect bouquet of flowers gracing her bedroom, resting in her very own vase on the shelf beside bed. Grandmother had given her the delicate porcelain vase last week for her eighth birthday. She was delighted that Grandmother believed her to be responsible enough to own something so beautifully fragile. Eight perfect flowers for my pretty vase, Jemima beamingly thought.
Jemima wiped her dusty shoes on the doormat before entering the front door of her home. She sniffed the air, certain she had caught a whiff of apple pie, Father’s favorite. While gingerly pulling each flower out of her pinafore’s pocket, she made a beeline for the kitchen where she found Mother pulling a steaming pie out of the hot oven. Mother stood upright and, seeing her daughter had returned, gave Jemima a smile while setting the pie down and removing her oven mitts.
“Thank you for obeying me, Jemima, and taking care of the errand so quickly," Mother said to Jemima while giving her a hug. "Today has been so busy. You’re such a big help to me!" Jemima returned the hug, clutching the bouquet in one hand. Remembering the vase, Jemima hurried off to her bedroom to care for the anticipated intention.
Jemima carefully pulled the vase off the shelf and took it to the kitchen so she could fill it with water. She saw the warm, beautiful apple pie Mother had placed in the center of the table where Father would readily notice it when he returned home. She could already see the grin that would cover his face upon beholding the delicious sight. Placing the fragrant flowers in her vase, Jemima thought, How much happier Daddy would be to see the flowers beside the pie--but they would look so pretty in my room, too. Jemima quickly decided, To make Daddy happy makes me happy. With joy upon her freckled face, Jemima gently placed her vase brimming with eight perfect flowers next to the pie.
With sunlight softly filtering through vernal trees upon the golden braid bouncing on her back, Jemima skipped happily down the well-worn path beside her house. Mother had sent her on an errand with instructions to return home without dallying. Jemima was a sweetly obedient daughter who wanted to please her parents, so she hastened as well as she could. On her way, however, she intently eyed the grassy sides of the pathway for particularly special flowers. She stopped briefly now and then to carefully pluck the choicest ones from their growing place in the earth, ensuring that every stem was of equal length so a flawless bouquet would be created, and placed them gently in the wide pocket of her white pinafore. As Jemima continued on her way home, humming a tune she learned in Sunday school, she mentally pictured her perfect bouquet of flowers gracing her bedroom, resting in her very own vase on the shelf beside bed. Grandmother had given her the delicate porcelain vase last week for her eighth birthday. She was delighted that Grandmother believed her to be responsible enough to own something so beautifully fragile. Eight perfect flowers for my pretty vase, Jemima beamingly thought.Jemima wiped her dusty shoes on the doormat before entering the front door of her home. She sniffed the air, certain she had caught a whiff of apple pie, Father’s favorite. While gingerly pulling each flower out of her pinafore’s pocket, she made a beeline for the kitchen where she found Mother pulling a steaming pie out of the hot oven. Mother stood upright and, seeing her daughter had returned, gave Jemima a smile while setting the pie down and removing her oven mitts.
“Thank you for obeying me, Jemima, and taking care of the errand so quickly," Mother said to Jemima while giving her a hug. "Today has been so busy. You’re such a big help to me!" Jemima returned the hug, clutching the bouquet in one hand. Remembering the vase, Jemima hurried off to her bedroom to care for the anticipated intention.
Jemima carefully pulled the vase off the shelf and took it to the kitchen so she could fill it with water. She saw the warm, beautiful apple pie Mother had placed in the center of the table where Father would readily notice it when he returned home. She could already see the grin that would cover his face upon beholding the delicious sight. Placing the fragrant flowers in her vase, Jemima thought, How much happier Daddy would be to see the flowers beside the pie--but they would look so pretty in my room, too. Jemima quickly decided, To make Daddy happy makes me happy. With joy upon her freckled face, Jemima gently placed her vase brimming with eight perfect flowers next to the pie.
~ ~ ~
Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
So often we get wrapped up in the lovely comfort of our dreams for the future, gathered along the path of service. We are convinced that nothing could bring us more pleasure than their fulfillment. We select the most perfect hopes and clutch them in our feeble hands for safekeeping, not letting them go until our goal is finally brought to pass. Yet, until we make the choice to give those beautiful hopes to our Heavenly Father, fullness of joy is always out of reach and unattainable. Until we sacrifice what we cling to, we'll never truly be happy. When given the Father in love, placed alongside His wonderful plan, we will find those desires more beautiful still. Just then He will bless us with His unmeasured goodness because He is good. We must willingly surrender our dearest desires not in selfish motivation, to benefit by His goodness, but to please Him--to make our dear Father glad by the faith which we place in Him completely, (Heb. 11:6). To make my Father happy makes me happy. No earthly measure of happiness can hold the equal of knowing we've brought joy to His loving heart! Naught compares to the gladness of seeing the smile on His face, rejoicing that He is glorified in our lives.
Proverbs 10:28a The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:
Proverbs 8:20-21 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Information concerning painting:
So often we get wrapped up in the lovely comfort of our dreams for the future, gathered along the path of service. We are convinced that nothing could bring us more pleasure than their fulfillment. We select the most perfect hopes and clutch them in our feeble hands for safekeeping, not letting them go until our goal is finally brought to pass. Yet, until we make the choice to give those beautiful hopes to our Heavenly Father, fullness of joy is always out of reach and unattainable. Until we sacrifice what we cling to, we'll never truly be happy. When given the Father in love, placed alongside His wonderful plan, we will find those desires more beautiful still. Just then He will bless us with His unmeasured goodness because He is good. We must willingly surrender our dearest desires not in selfish motivation, to benefit by His goodness, but to please Him--to make our dear Father glad by the faith which we place in Him completely, (Heb. 11:6). To make my Father happy makes me happy. No earthly measure of happiness can hold the equal of knowing we've brought joy to His loving heart! Naught compares to the gladness of seeing the smile on His face, rejoicing that He is glorified in our lives.
Proverbs 10:28a The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:
Proverbs 8:20-21 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Information concerning painting:
- Our Hope Is Gladness: "Girl in a Flower Garden" by Evert Pieters [original]
1 comment:
I enjoyed that, Naomi! Thanks! I also noticed the hearts. Too cute!!! =)
Love ya!
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