The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Lamentations 3:22-26, The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
24 ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
26 It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD.”

“Big boys don’t cry.” I can remember my mother saying that to me when I was a child. I certainly wasn’t a “big boy,” but I was crying; and she was attempting to coax me into a good mood. With Jeremiah, however, it was different. He was an adult when he wrote Lamentations, and he already possessed a reputation for wisdom, courage and godliness.

Jeremiah viewed the LORD as loving and compassionate. Whatever life’s situations brought him, he greeted the LORD as faithful each day. Jeremiah opens his very soul when he counts the LORD as his faithful Companion. Walking alone in life is often lonely, yet the LORD fills every life of His human companions with hope!

Further, “the LORD is good to those who wait for Him.” Far too often, we seek Him in our lonely state, but lose patience when He does not smother us with His immediate presence. No thinking child would expect his parent to visit comfort and strength upon him continuously. But a child doesn’t stop to think. He lacks patience and expects everything to be at his disposal immediately. That’s why Jeremiah urges us to be patient and wait silently for the salvific blessings of the LORD. Practice being a “big Christian!” Don’t cry! Don’t be discouraged! Trust the LORD to be all you need Him to be, but allow Him to do it in His time.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom