Making Lemonade

Scriptures: The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18)

It was a Palm Sunday! Everyone in the church was busy and excited. A little girl was beautifully dressed up because she was going to lead the children’s parade through the church. As they were getting everything ready, a naughty boy took a purple crayon and colored the girl’s shoes purple.

The little girl cried out, “I don’t want to wear purple shoes!” Her mother tried to calm her and to remove the crayon from her shoes, but the crayon would not come off. So, her mother told her, “Don’t look at your shoes; just keep your eyes fixed on the cross.”

Years later, this little girl grew up and was diagnosed with cancer. But she remembered what her mother told her that Palm Sunday morning. In the midst of her own sufferings, she reached out to many people, including that naughty boy who once made her days terrible. This story was from The Upper Room Daily Devotion and was written by that naughty boy whose life was transformed because this girl learned to fix her eyes on the cross, despite the circumstances.

Life is full of surprises. Just as the little girl was all dressed up and ready for the celebration of the festival, a crayon and a little boy almost changed the entire picture. People say, “When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade out of it.” How do you do that?

How do you pull yourself together again when your loved one walked out on you? How do you keep your spirit up when you’ve been lying in the hospital for 10 months and there’s no sign of relief in sight? How do you tell your spouse and children that the only job you have keeping the family supported is no longer there? How do you remain hopeful when all odds are against you? I don’t know!

But the mother of this little girl said something profound that Palm Sunday morning, “Don’t look at your shoes; just keep your eyes fixed on the cross.” The crayon was still on the shoes, but the girl’s eyes were not on there any more. Her focus became the cross where her Savior laid down His life for her and for everyone of us. She has shifted her attention away from the insignificant in life to the primary cause of her being, Lord Jesus. That’s all she needed.

There are many things in life that we cannot explain, nor expect. A brother in our church has been confined to bed in hospitals and rehab centers for almost a year. He is nearly incapable of walking on his own now. Yet, every time he sees us, he waved with smiles. His wife gave glory to God for every thing they have encountered and would not miss a chance to share with every visitor what God has done for them. If you have not seen him in the hospital, you would think her everyday life is rosy and trouble free. How did they do that? By staying focus on the cross, the very one that Paul said, “…it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18)

I don’t know about your life. There are a lot of surprises, pleasant and not, in mine. Like everyone else, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But this I know, Jesus is my Lord, He is in charge of my life and He will hold my hand and see me through, just as this song says,

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine,
For it’s skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

(words and music by Ira Stanphill)

Prayer Requests:
For those confined to bed for a long time

Prayer:
Father, You know our limitations in every way. Please help us to trust You with every step in life, visible or not, and help us to live out that hope and trust in You so we may be encouragements and blessings to those who are sick. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!