PSALM 55:22

The phone call came while carrying out my counselor tasks at the Junior Ranch on the hill at River Valley Ranch in Maryland, and meant a long ride down to the ranch office. I knew it had to be bad news. For my family, the phone was a necessity. A call would not be wasted without reason.

What I figured was that something had happened to my aging aunt. The real truth was as far from my mind as possible. What I heard at the other end of the line that day is stamped indelibly on my heart for the news I received and for the memorable way in which it was spoken.

When I spoke into the phone, the first words I heard were, “A terrible thing has happened.” It was my brother on one of the phones at my house. Then my sister, on another phone, added, “Daddy went to be with the Lord.” I recall that I took note of the incongruity of their two statements, but it was not until later that I was able to find it somewhat amusing. Our conversation ended with preliminary plans for my return to Chicago from Maryland. Stretching myself upon the stairs, I wept.

Several hours later, down at the main ranch, I received my mail at the regular lunchtime mail call. There was a package from my folks, sent several days before. When I opened it, on top of the items I had requested was a photo of my dad and mom standing in front of the house. Beneath it was a letter from my mother telling me that she and Dad had visited my uncle in the hospital and that he was not expected to live much longer. (He lived another 20 years. My dad was gone.)

Then, under the letter and the photo, there was a copy of Our Daily Bread. After reading the letter, I decided to open the little devotional to wherever it happened to open and see if there was a word of comfort for me. There at the top of the page was the verse, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee." Psalm 55:22 What a blessing God’s Word was to me at that moment.

The ranch staff scurried around making arrangements for me to head for home as quickly as possible. I was driven to the airport and climbed aboard the plane. My purse, my Bible and my copy of my recently obtained devotional were my traveling companions.

We flew high above a storm system, the black clouds below and the sun shining in a blue sky above them. I pulled the little devotional from my purse and decided to see what the message might be for July 20^th. I paged through the little book. When I came to the 20^th, there at the top of the page was the verse I had found before. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee.” What a coincidence, eh?

Needless to say, I clutched that verse through those early days of learning to live without my dear father, and since then, through dark and difficult days. Dad had gone to be with the Lord. That was not a terrible thing…for him. For us, however, it was tough. We needed unusual strength and deep comfort. God was good to me. He confirmed His promise that He would sustain me if I would throw my load upon Him!

A plaque with that verse hangs in my house now, a thoughtful gift from my mom somewhere along the way. Life, as it is for me right now, requires “casting my burden” upon my Great God.