Nancy Walker

Proverbs 3:5-6 (King James Translation)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.

Reflection:
My grandmother, Aubrey Caudle Ivey, was one of the greatest Christians I will ever know. Proverbs 3:5-6 was her motto, and she tried to live these instructions every day. She filled so many roles in her family: devoted daughter, beloved wife, supportive mother, cherished grandmother! (Each one of her nine grandchildren thought they were her favorite grandchild!)  She was attentive to her family and to others who needed a comforting note, a casserole or a pie, a ride to the doctor or a lift home from church. She taught Sunday School, frequently played the piano in worship, and was involved in every aspect of her church. Every moment of her day was spent teaching us about our Lord and how to live close to him through her actions and her words.  

I have two of her old Bibles. They are both nearly worn out—passages underlined, checks next to verses, notes in the narrow margins. One is never opened without a note or clipping falling out.  She studied the Bible every day, in groups or alone. I wonder how she would have reacted to the new translations of the Bible, like The Message. I think she would have liked this translation, where Proverbs 3:5-6 reads like this:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart: don’t try to figure out
everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.

God did keep her on track! That is why she is such a shining example of how we all should live.  Through all the difficult times she faced in life, she held on to her Lord. She listened to God, and God kept her on track. In this upside-down world we live in right now, it is my hope that we can all trust in our Lord to lead us down the right path. Can we let go of the worldly rush around us to remember him throughout our busy days? Do we take the time to stop and listen to God’s voice?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to remember the powerful words of Proverbs 3:5-6 as we manage our everyday lives. Listening, trusting and following you is the path we need to navigate every day. Please guide us through difficult days as well as through the joyful days of our lives. Amen.