“June is bursting out all over – all over the meadows and the hills”. Invitations pour in to graduations and weddings. Tall men and women, whom I taught as small seven and eight year old children, are now grown. How time fly’s, but in our memory how sweet remembering the days of their childhood – our part in their lives. School days will be the happiest you will probably ever know – they were for me. As I look back to those years before high school graduation, I realize I shall never again know such freedom, such joy, as I knew in those days. 

     Many young couples walk down the church aisle this month, Beth, to make solemn wedding vows to each other – know that without God and Christ as their partners, they will not know true happiness. The Word says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” My prayer is that you may know the best in marriage and a happiness that is rewarding. However, my deepest prayer for you is that you will have the greatest joy that one can know. The joy of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. This month I have been visiting back in the little village church where I grew up. It has so many memories for me. Up in the ceiling is a large, metal ring. I can remember when a large chandelier of kerosene lamps hung from it many years ago. These were the days before electricity cam to our village. I can remember the summer revivals; sometimes the kerosene lamps caught fire and had to be taken outside. Often there was the fire of the Holy Spirit. It ws on such a night when I was eight years old that I walked forward and gave my life to Christ. I knew just what I was doing and have never regretted the decision I made. What a change it was in my entire life style and thinking. 

     As years passed and I grew older, I can remember the good times we had as teen-agers walking the mile to church in the late evenings for those revivals, as well as the Sundays in between. Sometimes a neighbor would stop to give us a ride, but these were the days of youth and we really preferred the walking – the conversation and fellowship with our peers. 

     Children’s Day was a special day in June that I shall never forget. We walked down the aisle in white dresses, took our places, and proudly recited our parts for the program. How well I can remember feeling pride as the years passed and I was able to move farther down the line – I was growing up and getting taller. 

     In such a day as ours, I am fearful that you will never know such experiences as these, Dear Beth, but I do sincerely pray you have a happy school life, that you may find true happiness in marriage, and above all, you may know freedom and peace in having Christ as your Savior. How it will help you in difficult times – and these are difficult times. Christ will never fail you, even when family and friends fail you. He can enrich your life and give you life eternal. I pray His blessings upon you and His protection over you, always. 

© 2001 Florence Jenkins Muse. All rights reserved