10. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 62: 1-12(Trust in God Alone)

Ana listened intently, as her Uncle related his problems to her father. His business had suffered badly and he was worried that he might lose it. Yet he was calm and kept saying that he was not worried and had faith that God will provide an answer as he promised in Psalm 62.

After he left, Ana turned to her grandmother and with a worried look, asked her:
“Gramma, I don’t understand, how come Uncle Joe is so calm with all his problems?”

The old lady, sensing an opportunity teach Ana about the real meaning of having faith in God under all circumstances, replied:
“My dear child, your Uncle Joe is blessed with the kind of faith that only a genuine believer in the goodness of the Almighty can possess. He has the strong belief that God will never abandon him, even if the whole world turns against him. Let us read about God’s promise in Psalm 62”.

As Ana slipped beside her, the old lady picked up her trusted bible, opened it at Psalm 62, and started to read:

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

“This is real, true faith. The Psalmist expresses his confidence to wait in silent hope for God to provide his salvation. With God alone as his rock and his fortress, nothing will shake him”.

The old lady paused awhile, to allow Ana to reflect on the statement, and then continued:

“You remember how your Uncle spoke of his troubles with the people who are trying to bring him down. Well listen to what the Psalmist wrote:”

How long will you assail a person,

will you batter your victim, all of you,

as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.

They take pleasure in falsehood;

they bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse.

Upon hearing these words, little Ana sat up abruptly. Although she did not understand every word, she knew enough to recognize that these were bad people. Looking directly at her grandmother, with her mouth wide open with disappointment, she said:

“Wow! Gramma, are people really so wicked?”

“Yes indeed my child, they will do anything to hurt you. They will attack you, and take advantage of your weakness. Their aim is to bring you down. They will lie about you, or even say nice things to you, but curse you behind your back”.

Little Ana paused incredulously and with a voice saddened with concern, observed:

“Is this what is happening to Uncle Joe?”

The old lady nodded her head in the affirmative, but then quickly added:

“But your Uncle Joe is an honest, God-fearing man who is patient and firmly believes that at the right time, God will deliver him and provide salvation, exactly as promised by the Psalmist. Listen to the promise:

On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

“He continued further by advising us to avoid anything that involves cheating or stealing or putting all your trust on getting rich. Listen to these words:”

Put no confidence in extortion,

and set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

“finally, as if to make sure we understood the message of God’s trust, he went on to state that when God speaks, the power belongs to him, while our love must steadfastly belong to him and he will repay us according to our worth. Listen to his promise:”

Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.

For you repay to all according to their work.

Relieved by the words of her grandmother, little Ana jumped up, hugged and kissed her, and headed directly to the telephone as she announced, in a happy and positive voice:

“I am going to call Uncle Joe and tell him that God Loves him and he should not worry for God will make sure that every thing will come out alright”

9. THE OLD LADY AND ANA - PSALM 180:1-6 (The Good and the Wicked)

Ana listened intently as her father related the story of the taxi driver who had found a briefcase full of money and rather than keep it, he chose to return it to the owner. His friends and co-workers mocked him and tried to encourage him the keep the money, but he refused to do so because he felt it was wrong and was against God’s teaching.
When her father was finished, Ana turned to her Grandmother and asked her:
“Gramma is that really true? Did God really teach that we should always be honest and
never cheat anyone?”

The old lady, sensing an opportunity to teach a very important lesson to her grand-daughter replied;
“Oh yes Ana, the Bible, God’s written words, has many examples of people who chose
honesty over dishonesty and who pleased God for doing so. One of the best examples
is contained in Psalm 180:1-6”.

Opening her bible, she began to read:

Blessed is the man who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

“God makes it very clear that the man who does not mix with the wicked person, or is not associated with the sinner or does not share with those who mock and redicule others is a man who has his blessings. He went on further to describe this man”:

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

“This man is happy to live under God’s law and studies it day and night to make sure that he understands everything. This means that he does not have to be forced to do so, but considers it a pleasure”.
Ana, listening intently, asked her grandmother:

“Gramma, how do you get to know this kind of man from all the other bad ones?

The old lady nodded appropriately and continued to read:

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

“God described that man as one who stands out like a fruit tree that grows with plenty water. It is laden with fruit and its leaves are abundant, healthy and not withering. You will know this man because whatever he touches will prosper”.

Ana added quickly, to underline that she understood:

“Like Uncle Peter, who you always say whatever he touches turns to gold.”

The old lady nodded affirmatively, and continued to read:

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

“God did not hold back in describing the wicked as chaff, which is like straw, that is easily blown away by the wind. They have no substance and therefore no respect.”

The old lady then lifted her head to make sure that Ana was listening and that she understood,

then continued:

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

“God was absolutely clear that the wicked will never be allowed to stand in judgement, nor will he be allowed to be among the good people. He promised to take care and protect the honest and good people, while the evil and the wicked will perish.”

Relieved, Ana got up, kissed her grandmother and as she walked away, shouted confidently:

“Don’t worry gramma, I am going to please God and be good all my life!”

8. THE OLD LADY AND ANA -PSALM 27(Confidence in God)

Little Ana put down her Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book which she was reading for the third time and walked deliberately towards her grandmother who was sitting on her favorite chair in the family room.
“Gramma” she asked “Do you think God knows who I am and does he have time to think about me and to help me if I get into trouble?”
The Old Lady held out her hand and pulled Ana towards her and with a voice ringing with confidence replied:
“Yes indeed, my child. You, like every one of us, are his child and in the same way your parents take care of you and protect you, so does God in every conceivable way. In fact there is a section in the bible in which King David expressed total faith that God was not only his light and his salvation, but his protector, let us read it together”.
Opening her favorite Bible to Psalm 27 she began to read:

The Lord is my light and my salvation

— whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life

—of whom shall I be afraid?
when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.
Though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident.

“You see Ana, the very wise King David had no doubt about God’s love. In fact his main concern was whether God will bother to accept him to dwell under his care and protection. Listen:”

One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

Ana, somewhat perplexed that King David, the wisest of men, might have doubts about God accepting him, listened intently as her grandmother continued reading:

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"

Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

O God my Savior.

Ana was now very confused, that King David should continue to ask God to be merciful to him and not reject him, looked at her grand mother and asked:
“Gramma, I am very worried. If King David, a great and wise man, could be so unsure of whether God will notice him and take care of him, how can I be sure that God will even bother to look at me?”

The old lady sensing Ana’s disappointment drew her closer, and placing her arm around the child’s shoulder, said in a calm and reassuring voice:
“King David said this because he recognized that he was only human and although he knew otherwise, he still could not believe that God will pay attention to his needs. This is a sign of true humility and you will see it among people who are genuine. He wanted to be sure that he was worthy of God’s graces. He was not ashamed to admit to his faults and weaknesses, and was not ashamed to ask for help. Listen to this:”

Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, O Lord;

lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence.

“You see Ana, this great man, a King among his people, was not afraid to express his fears and his worries, and to ask God to teach him to stay on the straight way. He knew that his enemies will do anything to destroy him yet confident that God will receive him.”

Ana was relieved, and turning to her grandmother with a look of sudden revelation, said:
"Gramma now I understand why we always pray to God before receiving the Holy Communion with these words;"

“Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,

but just say the word and I shall be healed”

The old lady, startled by her grand daughter’s remarkable insight, sighed deeply and replied:

“Ana, you are so right, we must never ever lose our humility in the sight of our God, even as we remain confident in the faith that he will always be present for us. King David expressed this in these words”:

"I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart ,

and wait for the Lord "