ON THE STING...

Esther shared with me a story just the other day about something that happened in her childhood.  I will tell it to you as I recall her story.

The beautiful summer day offered no sign of chaos as Esther, Ronnie, and Sharon were picking berries by the edge of the trees. The containers were filling up.  Conversation was light and cheerful.  Then Esther asked a question in her five year old innocence, “What are those things, Ronnie?” As Ronnie, her older brother, turned to see what she was talking about, he shouted, “HORNETS!!!”  Suddenly, the tempo of the day changed, especially for Esther. Berries went flying, along with arms and legs. “RUNNNN!!” they screamed.

Now Esther was the youngest of the three that were there. She grabbed the back pocket on Ronnie’s pants in an effort to keep up with the others. Then the stitching of the pocket gave way, as the older ones bounded up over the hill. The next few minutes turned into a stinging frenzy, as the tiny yellow jackets concentrated on the kid they could reach the easiest. It was almost too much to bear! Esther screamed, danced, and finally fell to the ground, beating the air in an effort to chase these horrible things away.  Edgar’s nephew, Vernon, came running from the garden and carried her up to the house. Her Mother and the others worked for what seemed like hours to get the hornets out of her clothes and hair and endeavour to get her calmed down. Her little body was covered in stings! Finally, as she lay on the couch, sobbing, but calmed, one last hornet that had been missed, made itself known.  Once again, Esther’s screams and cries filled the air on the Valley Road near Belleisle Bay! Thankfully, she wasn’t allergic to them, and quickly recovered.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible uses the adjective “sting” to describe death?  It makes sense when you think about it. Death can come suddenly, or slowly work it’s way into our everyday, calm and peaceful lives. No matter how it arrives, it stings! It hurts, and there’s no way around it – or is there? 

I like how I Corinthians 15:55 puts it “O death where is thy sting, o grave where is thy victory?” I’m so thankful that Jesus took that sting for us on Calvary. We still mourn, but not as those who have no hope! Praise God, the “sting” is gone!!  If you are experiencing the sting of a loved one’s passing, I encourage you today to lay it all upon Jesus and you too will experience relief from the sting! SRR