4. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 91(Living with God)

The night was particularly dark and gloomy. It had been raining continuously all day with bouts of lightening and thunder so strong that the windows shuddered. The television repeatedly warned of the risk of tornados.
Little Ana sat huddled close to the old lady, visibly frightened, she pleaded with her:

“Please Gramma, I am afraid, why is God causing all of this to happen?”

The Old lady smiling sweetly, calmly sat up and looking intently at the face of her grandchild, whispered reassuringly:

“Don’t ever be afraid of anything bad my child. Always know that God will never leave you alone”

Picking up her trusted bible, she opened it at Psalm 91 and said:

"Let us listen to what God has promised those who believe in him”.

Reading slowly and deliberately:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,

"He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.

Turning to her grand daughter she said:

“He promises that if you trust in your God and make him your strength and your protector, you will live under his shadow”.

She continued reading:

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

“God is promising you that in the worst of times when you feel threatened and deadly disease abound, he will cover you with his feathers and shield you with his faithfulness”

Ana, somewhat puzzled, asked:

“But Gramma what can I do when I am afraid like this?

The Old lady held her closer and continued:

You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

The old lady lifted her head and looking into Ana's eyes, said:
“God said to us we must not be afraid of anything, be it terror or threats or disease. He promised us that although thousands of others will succumb all around us, it will not happen to us. We will see how the wicked are punished”.

Visibly relieved but still incredulous, Ana asked:

“What does God want us to do so that he can do all this for us?

The Old lady, still smiling shook her head gently and continued:

If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“You see Ana, God has told us clearly. If you chose him as your home and protector, he promises that no harm will ever befall you and no disaster will come to you. He will also command his angels to guard you and lift you away from danger and strengthen you so that you could trample the lion and snake, which means your enemies."

Ana’s eyes opened wide with joy as she heard these words. But then she paused for a moment , and with a frown on her small forehead and a very serious tone in her voice asked:

“But Gramma, why would God want to do all this for me?”

The Old lady laughed out loudly and quickly replied:

“You see Ana, God knew you would ask that question and this is his answer:”

Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.
God will do all this if you love him,

acknowledge him and call upon him.

He will respond to you, be with you

and deliver you when you are in trouble.

And he will honor you.

And without pausing, the Old lady continued:

With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.

At which point, little Ana jumped up, hugged her grandmother as hard as she could and spoke, with a voice full of faith and confidence:

“I know Gramma, God will give me a long life and salvation, if I love and trust him”.

3. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -MATTHEW 6:23-24(Do not Worry)

“Gramma I am very worried” Ana said, looking at her grand mother with a frown borne of genuine concern and anxiety. “My best friend’s daddy has lost his job and might lose his home
and she is crying all the time and I don’t know what to say to her. Why is God not helping them?"

The old lady, sensing stress beyond Ana’s tender age, beckoned her to come sit with her on the couch.
“Let us listen to what God has to say to people who are worried about their lives”.

She then opened her trusted bible to the Gospel of Matthew 6: 25-34, and began to read aloud:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?

“you see Ana, God is telling you that you need not worry about what you have to eat or drink or wear. None of this is as important to God as your life."

The old lady continued:

“Listen to this, God has more to say”:

Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?

“Have you ever wondered how the birds that fly around get there food. They don’t grow anything and have no home to store anything. They get everything from God. Don’t you think God will do the same for you who is more valuable to him than them.”

Ana nodded her head in approval but still appeared worried and confused. The old lady drew her closer and said;
“Let’s read some more”:

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon
in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“God said worry does not help, you don’t live any longer. Also worrying about clothes makes no sense, the beautiful lilies of the field do nothing but get their beauty from God. Even Solomon the wisest king could not match this. And if God will do this for the lilies, don’t think he will do the more for you, his favorite.”

Ana smiled, she was relieved and asked her grandmother, what should she do.
The old lady answered;

“God has the answer, listen”

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

“Notice he said stop worrying about what we eat, or drink or wear, leave that for those who don’t believe in God. You must trust that God knows what you need and he will always provide for you”.

Now, beaming with joy, Ana hugged her grandmother and thanked her for all her help and then asked;

“Gramma, how should I tell my friend not to worry?”

She replied, "God gave us the answer”:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“Tell you friend, trust in God and his goodness and know he will provide everything. And do not worry about tomorrow, you have enough to worry about today”.

With eyes wide open and a deep sight of relief, little Ana jumped up, kissed her grand mother and as she ran out of the room, stated loud and clear, for all to hear:

“Thank you God, you are wonderful”.

2. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PROVERBS 31 (The Virtuous Lady)

It was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon and the family had all gone out of the house. She was sitting outside in the porch doing what she most enjoys to do; reading and meditating on the word of the Lord. On this occasion she was reading some of her most favorite passages contained in Proverbs 31, often referred to as The Virtuous Woman. She still recalls her first encounter with this passage. She was no more than 9 or 10 years old when Isabelle, her late nanny, read and explained it to her and then prayed with her, asking God to guide her to follow the path of a virtuous woman, so that the world will be proud of her. She never forgot this and has spent all her life trying to follow the advice.

Some time later that afternoon, Ana came out to greet her. She had a glass of milk and a cookie in her hands.

“Gramma, she asked, what is God saying to you today?”

The Old Lady greeted her, asked to sit next to her and said:

“Let me tell you about the story in the bible about a very good woman who lived a long time ago and who God wants us all to be like. It is written in Proverbs 31, and describes what every woman should strive to be in all aspects of their lives. In their personal appearance, their family life and their daily responsibilities, they must strive to obey and live by God’s teachings”.

She continues:

“The passage begins with a description of a Virtuous Woman, a woman of strong character”:

Who can find a wife of noble character?

For her value is far more than rubies.

The heart of her husband has confidence in her,

and he has no lack of gain.

She brings him good and not evilall the days of her life.

She obtains wool and flax,and she is pleased to work with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships;

she brings her food from afar.

She also gets up while it is still night,

and provides food for her household
and a portion to her female servants.

“These words simply describe that a good woman must be honest and strong, must be respected by her family and willing to work hard, hand in hand with her husband to take care of her family and others dependent on her”.

Referring to the woman’s image and appearance, she continues to read:

She makes for herself coverlets;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is well-known in the city gate

when he sits with the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and honor,

and she can laugh at the time to come.

Looking at Ana, the old lady explains:
“A good woman must not only work hard, but must make sure that as she does so, her appearance creates an image that deserves the respect of others and adds to the good name and reputation of her husband and family”.

The old lady continued;

“Remember, however successful you become, God expects you to be charitable and to share your blessings with your poor and needy neighbors”. She then read out these lines:
She extends her hand to the poor,and reaches out her hand to the needy."

Finally, the old lady turns to little Ana and holding her close to her, says with a voice firm with conviction from a life-time of experience of trying to live the good life:

“This is how God expects the good woman to be. She must speak wisely with truth and honesty and she must take care of her household and avoid idle behavior.
And when she does this, her children will raise their voices in appreciation, and her husband will praise her and give her just rewards and announce her praises to all the world as a woman who fears the Lord and who lives by his words”.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

The old lady paused for a moment, said a silent pray of praise, and then slowly closed her bible.
Little Ana remained silent for a short while, then as she got up, she turned to her grand mother and, with words of wisdom that belied her tender age, said;

“Gramma, I believe I know what God wants me to be, because I have just heard his voice”

1. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PSALM 23 (The Psalm of David)

She sat comfortably in her favorite chair, her bible opened at her favorite spot, Psalm 23,
The Psalm of David. As she began reading the first verse, Ana her 9 year old grand daughter came bouncing in. Gramma she asked, why are you always reading that book?
Smiling sweetly, she replied;

“When I read this book, I listen to God speaking to me through his words. Every line in this book has a message from God, if you listen. She continued, Look at this passage, it is called Psalm 23, the Psalm of David”.

Ana came closer and together they read the first line;

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,

I SHALL NOT WANT.

The old lady paused for a moment, then spoke:

"Just like a shepherd who takes care of his sheep, providing all their needs, so too, God is
Assuring us that he will provide all our needs, care for us, protect us and guide us. We must believe and trust that God will always be there for us”.

HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES,
HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS,
HE RESTORES MY SOUL.

With her hands resting gently on Ana’s shoulders, she continued:

“Again like the good shepherd who takes his sheep to good pastures and provide water and rest, God will provide us with places where we are sustained and refreshed and where we can lift our spirits when we are down”.

HE GUIDES ME IN THE PATHES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.

Holding Ana’s hands, the old lady continues;

“Like a good shepherd who keeps his sheep from straying away, so God will be there to guide us in the path of a true Christian, whenever we falter."

EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY

OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME,
YOUR ROD AND STAFF COMFORT ME.

Smiling knowingly, she stresses to her granddaughter;

“He reassures us that there will be no need to be afraid for he will be present in our worst
hour, always guiding us and supporting us. He will always be faithful to us’.

YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME,

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES.
YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL,

MY CUP OVERFLOWS.

Raising her voice slightly she assures Ana,

“Like a faithful caring father, God provides us will all our needs in spite of our enemies around us, and he continues to bless us with overflowing bounties”.

SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME

ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF MY LORD FOREVER.

With her hands firmly clasped, the old lady paused for a moment to allow Ana time to absorb the information and then she concludes,

“And after all of this, be assured that with God’s blessings, your life will be full of Goodness and Love and with a promise that you will live in his house for eternity”.

At this point Ana, eyes wide open and overwhelmed with awe, looked at her grandmother, and slowly said;

“Gramma thank you for helping me hear God speaking to me. Can you please ask him to come back soon”.

With great joy and happiness, the old lady replied;

“Yes Ana, very soon”.