Skip to main content

FIRST EDITIONS

 First Editions written by Joan Rowden Hart  in 2017.

In the living books on the shelves of the eternal library of life, we are all first editions.  No one has ever been exactly like us since the world began, and there will never be anyone exactly like us even until the end of time.

Our book was nothing but blank pages when the Great Author of life conceived us in His mind, numbering both the  days of life we would have (see Psalm 139)  and numbering the hairs on our head (see Matthew 10).

He knows our story from beginning to end, and the narrative is unlike that of anyone else, and to confirm that fact He stamped our unique fingerprint on the tips of our fingers.  Those are our copyrights.

Then he sent us out into the world, where we began to fill the book of our life with our own story, making decisions which will impact our destiny for eternity.

Every page is a clean slate.  Every dawning is a new day and as darkness descends amid the night time sounds of the nocturnal creatures in our part of the world, we should make time  to go back over that day’s page to check for lessons learned and to draft letters of apology to those we might have hurt. And to those who have hurt us, we must immediately extend forgiveness. Every page should include a gratitude list of blessings received.

There are no do-overs.  Missed opportunities may or may not be allowed to roll over until the next day, as our Omniscient  Editor deems best.  The seconds, minutes and hours of that day are gone forever, never to come around again, and they are deducted from the alloted days given to us at the beginning whether we used them wisely or not.

Only our Maker knows the value of an eternal soul, so no price tag will appear  anywhere.

When our time is up, and the last page and paragraph, sentence and word has been written, God will close the book and put it on the shelf in His archives.  And in the years to come, our loved ones will ask to read it.  As they scan the pages, will they be embarrassed and full of shame?  Or will they be encouraged and ask for copies to share with their younger family members who are trying to follow in our footsteps?

As time goes by the words on the pages of our archived book will fade away and become memories engraved on the hearts of those who loved us.  But God, the Author of life,will never forget.  And if we have served Him during our lifetime on earth, He will remember us as one of His best creations, and shelve us in a special place in His great library surrounding His throne.


©Joan Rowden Hart 2022

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COMMUNION ON THE MOON

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. (Melody Beattie) Americans need a day dedicated to gratitude. I have noticed that in the lineup of most of our holidays that Thanksgiving is perhaps the one least given over to secularism - the one we still observe in a traditional fashion. We need it to keep our focus clear and to teach our children what it means to be thankful for family, friendship and faith. We need a time to gather around the table with extended family and enjoy turkey and dressing and gravy, two kinds of potatoes, cranberries, hot rolls, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and whipped cream. We need it, not for the calories, but to create an awareness that there are those who don’t have those blessings, because in the hectic pace of our everyday lives we tend to forget those in need. Family and food are important, but above all else, Americans need a rededication to our faith. Faith brought the pilgrims to the ne...
Post a Comment
Read more

My Facebook Message To Readers

 I posted this on my Facebook recently to let my Facebook friends know what to expect from my revamped page. A personal note for my special Facebook friends. No one is getting this but you! My Facebook posts have evolved through the years. I still like to make my friends laugh with a silly story or a joke or a cartoon, or get you caught up in a drama that seemingly could only happen to me, or just sharing a memory in a special photo, but more and more I am trying to post words that will inspire you or encourage you. I also like to post informational articles about subjects that might interest you - something you didn’t have time to read or watch. And you know of course that I love to read and especially write poetry so I will share lots of "rhyme and reason" with you, too. My days revolve around the computer, doing research on subjects in which I am interested and want to pass on to you, or surfing Facebook to keep up with my friends. I am not lazy. Unless you are pretty much...
Post a Comment
Read more

SIGNERS OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

  I wrote this for the newspaper several years ago. Not political. Just history about the signers of the Declaration of Independence but extremely interesting. Not because I wrote it, but because it is history we have either forgotten, or maybe never learned it in school to begin with. Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well ...
Post a Comment
Read more