“… “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come saying ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; …  And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:5-7/NKJV)

“It was a typical day when Joy decided to go down to the beach. She needed answers, she needed guidance, and honestly, she just needed some hope. She was a middle-aged woman who realized that time passed more quickly as she aged. Nothing about her over the past years would draw your attention to her. She was of medium build and much shorter than she desired. Her brownish-blonde hair was past her shoulders now, but no longer had any shine. Her skin was beginning to show her age and the ravages of time. The only outward quality she had was her sapphire blue eyes, but even they didn’t sparkle anymore. The tears had washed most of the glimmer away. She stumbled as she made her way across the rocky, sandy beach, partly because of the unevenness of the path, partly because of her disability. She found a large, sturdy piece of driftwood that looked solid. She sat down to rest. She was so weary, and with her infirmity, and the considerable, unnecessary weight on her shoulders she carried, she couldn’t travel far anymore. She realized she had allowed the world’s trials to overshadow her more than she had noticed. Her outlook no longer represented her name.

As she sat there, the sun’s warm rays felt like a love she once remembered, cupping her face in its hands. The quiet, rippling sounds of the waves began to make her heart beat in rhythm. She deeply breathed in the fragrance of the ocean. The healing sound and scent of the ocean breeze caused Joy to feel more peaceful. Surprisingly, the weight on her shoulders seemed to feel somewhat lighter. A low-piercing noise startled her, and when her eyes opened, she saw a seagull that had landed not far from her. It was focused on the shell it had hurled from the sky, enjoying its morsels, oblivious that she was even near it. She was used to being invisible. Joy laughed inwardly as she observed the waddle of the seagull. It reminded her of herself. Once the bird noticed the intruder, it quickly took flight, and Joy beheld its grace, soaring above the beach. She had once soared, too.

Joy noticed the time on her phone and saw that the sun was beginning to explode into a magnificent palette of colors on heaven’s canvas. She knew she had to leave soon; finding her way back would be too arduous. As she tottered, like the seagull, finding her way down the beach, a smile began to rise, looking at the countless shells, sea glass, starfish, and endless treasures on the caramel-colored sand. She was about to lift her gaze when something shimmered on the ground. She couldn’t make it out until she grew closer. It was a stone, but not an ordinary stone. It was shiny, off-white with streaks of sienna, magenta, a few threads of royal blue, and highlights of gold like Kintsugi pottery. She picked up the stone. It was baked warm from the sun. Strangely, it felt quite weighty for such a small stone, but not too cumbersome to hold. Forgetting the sun beginning to set, she leaned against a boulder and gazed at it. A tear brushed down her face. An explosion of memories came to her as she examined the gold-filled lines on the stone.

Joy felt the Lord was speaking to her audibly. The message was clear, “How long, My child, will you keep running and grieving the losses? You only need to ask and believe; I, too, will fill those dark memories with light and triumph. You no longer need to be just Joy, but Joyful again. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I have seen and collected every tear and written them down. Soon, very soon, you will no longer remember the heartbreak.” Joyful was weeping now. She knew His words to be true. She knew He had been unwavering and had provided for her all her life. When did she lose hope?

Storms would come and go. Sometimes, she had plenty, sometimes a little. Occasionally, she lost everything on this earthly path. But Joyful knew she would never lose her eternal home or His love. She held on to the stone, and even though little light was left to help her find her way, she was no longer worried. She felt like she, too, was soaring. The strength of the small stone reminded her of God’s strength. It wasn’t crushing; it helped her when she was weak. Strength was the word the Lord wanted her to remember. Strength, when others said she was feeble, or dense, or worthless, or medically unhealthy. It didn’t matter what people or doctors said; the above-and-beyond strength didn’t come from medications, treatments, or encouragement from others. It came from God alone.

Joyful kept the stone as a remembrance of God’s faithfulness and vowed that no matter what happened in her life, she wouldn’t forget this moment and all the previous times that God had been steadfast. She didn’t have riches untold, but she was the heir of the God Most High. Earthly things were not at her disposal, but eternal, heavenly riches were in abundance, and she knew that if she spent time with her heavenly Father and focused on His path, He would always help her through each day. Joyful would gather a bountiful bucket of remembrance stones in the months and years ahead.”

This Holy Week, remember all that Christ did for you in this fleeting life and His sacrifice for all eternity. Choose a stone to remind you of His unwavering love and faithfulness.   

And remember to give thanks for the stone that was rolled away! Hallelujah! He is alive!             

(Excerpt from “Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms.)

Verse references: Joshua 1:5, Psalm 56:8