"One Thing That Remains" (Day 25)

 Verse of the Day

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:4)

 

When I look back on my life, my first memory is church—walking hand in hand with my grandfather. He was strong, faithful, and deeply loved. Losing him when I was eleven was my first deep sorrow, and I still feel it.

 

My mother was the steady guide of our faith. Every Sunday, she brought us to church. She used to say, “No one is perfect but Jesus. Just try your best to live by the Ten Commandments.” That stayed with me.

 

Life brought more losses. Losing my younger brother was one of the hardest. Even now, every Sunday in church, I miss him.

 

Church was always central in my life—from youth group days to years of serving, leading, and caring for others. I tried to be active, to show up, to help where I could. Simple things—visiting, praying, listening—meant a lot.

 

At thirty-four, I was diagnosed with an eye disease. My vision slowly narrowed. That was not easy. But I learned to accept it and be thankful for what I had.

 

Over the years, I learned something: money does not last. Loving God and loving your neighbor—that is what matters.

 

Now, as I grow older and depend more on others, I hold on to one hope: that my children and grandchildren will hold on to Christ.

 

Through it all—loss, change, and time—one thing has remained. The Rock of Ages has held me. And He still does. – Galen Wilde

 

Thought for the Day

Faith grows over time—not in perfection, but in steady trust through loss, change, and limitation. Where is God inviting you today to move from simply remembering faith to actively trusting Him as your Rock in this present season?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“Learning to Love like Christ” (Day 1)

Verse of the Day And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 My journey of transformation did not happen all at once. It unfolded through moments of joy, sorrow, calling, and surrender. I was born the youngest of eight children in a devout Christian family. My grandfather died in a tragic accident while installing a bell in our church—a final act of devotion. His life and death taught me that faith is not theory. It is offering oneself fully to God. Music shaped my early years. Singing drew me close to the Lord. Later, serving as a chaplain assistant in the military in Korea opened my heart to ministry. Through the encouragement of an American chaplain, God led me to the United States for theological study. Then came a devastating car accident in college that nearly took my life. Injured and w...
Read more

"Becoming" (Day 3)

Day 3: “Becoming” “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16 I grew up in a small town where life centered on hard work and family. Some of my earliest memories are of picking potatoes with my siblings. The mornings were cold, and as a child I sometimes cried from the chill, but we worked together. As the oldest, I felt the weight of responsibility. Those early hardships shaped a resilience that later helped me raise my children and grandchildren with guidance and love. Childhood also brought moments of freedom and growth. Summers with my grandparents and long days exploring outdoors taught me independence. Yet school was difficult. I was not bullied, but I was afraid to speak or be noticed. I kept to myself for many years. Then, after I married Bonnie, something changed. It was as if a switch flipped. With her beside me, I found the courage to stand on my own. Marriage and family b...
Read more

"Transformation Through Every Season" (Day 2)

Verse of the Day "I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." - Psalm 40:1-2 (NRSV) When I look back, my life was not marked by big dramatic moments, but by steady steps through many seasons. I grew up in a simple home in the country without running water or many comforts. We worked hard, but we had what we needed, and we had each other. Those early years taught me contentment and gratitude. Faith came to me through relationships. As a teenager, friends invited me to the Methodist church in Mars Hill. There, my faith began to take root. I did not come because of pressure. I came because I felt welcomed and loved. Bob and I married young and built our life slowly. We lived in a small trailer and worked hard to provide for our three children. Over time, God blessed our efforts. I worked in the school system for thirty years and loved serving ...
Read more