THE SIMPLE THINGS CAN BE THE GREATEST GIFTS
Don’t you hate it when you read something in the Bible and
you don’t understand it? I don’t like that one bit and when that happens and I
tend to go over it and over it until it becomes clear. But if it doesn’t, then sometimes
I have to just let it go and know that God will make it clear at a later date.
But today I decided to share my dilemma with Jane, and she
was able to explain the section of scripture right away, and my mind was
untangled immediately. I am thankful beyond words that God gave me Jane as a
best friend. Having someone who truly cares about you is a gift from God.
God loves us so much, He gives us exactly what we need in
life. We just need to take a moment to really look at what God’s given us and
be content with what we have. Like it says in the book of Hebrews:
“Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he
hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
I shared this last Christmas and I wanted to share it again
because I love the simplicity of this old photograph by Eric Enstrom. It hangs
on the wall across from where I sleep and reminds me that with Jesus in my heart
and life, I can find God in even the most meager of situations.
Here is the expanded story of this man and this photograph. I
hope it is as meaningful to you as it is to me. I WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
OF YOU
”Back in the
year of 1918, a bearded, saintly, old man, with foot-scrapers to sell, called
on Eric Enstrom at his photography studio in the tiny mining town of Bovey,
Minnesota.
From this
chance encounter a world-famous photographic study was created. Today Enstrom’s
picture Grace, showing the elderly peddler with head bowed in a mealtime prayer
of thanksgiving, is known and loved throughout the world.
“There was
something about the old gentleman’s face that immediately impressed me. I saw
that he had a kind face… there weren’t any harsh lines in it,” Enstrom said in
recalling the 1918 visit of Charles Wilden to his studio.
It happened
that Enstrom, at that time, was preparing a portfolio of pictures to take with
him to a convention of the Minnesota Photographer’s Association. “I wanted to
take a picture that would show people that even though they had to do without
many things because of the war they still had much to be thankful for,” Enstrom
said.
On a small
table, Enstrom placed a family book, some spectacles, a bowl of gruel, a loaf
of bread, and a knife on the table. Then he had Wilden pose in a manner of
prayer… praying with folded hands to his brow before partaking of a meager
meal.
To bow his
head in prayer seemed to be characteristic of the elderly visitor, Enstrom
recalled, for he struck the pose very easily and naturally.
As soon as
the negative was developed, Enstrom was sure he had something special… a
picture that seemed to say, “This man doesn’t have much of earthly goods, but
he has more than most people because he has a thankful heart.” That Enstrom’s
camera had captured “something special” is an appraisal widely shared.”
Love,
Carolyn
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