My husband has carried a small rock in his pocket for as long as I’ve known him. It isn’t a lucky charm. It has nothing to do with superstition. It has no magical qualities. It’s just a small rock. I asked him once why he kept a stone in his pocket and he told me it was a reminder for him, to always know that God was with him. I’d often come across this little stone while doing the laundry. He may have forgotten to remove it, but I think it was still there as a reminder for me as well.

The rock made its way to another country recently. Paul gave it to a young man in our congregation who recently was deployed to Iraq. He would be separated from his young family for a time, so it went into the fellow’s pocket for a while. When the man returned from his appointment, he returned the rock to Paul. He also gave him a medal he had purchased while there as a thank you for his gift. The rock didn’t keep the guy safe, but the connection to which it was drawn did.

As I think about the little rock and where it’s been and what it’s endured, I can’t help but thank God for giving him to me for such a long and wonderful life. As we begin another journey together, I know that God still has things for both of us to do while we continue the road we’re traveling. I am confident that God is our rock – our salvation – our hope – our savior. His love is so much stronger than any material thing we can put in our hands or save in a pocket. His love endures forever.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me such a wonderful, God-fearing man to share this life with. He has a faith that can move mountains, because you are the force behind him. His faith has sustained him from one trial to the next and has never faltered. Guide us through the next few years as you have in the past. I know you will never leave us. I trust in your unfailing love. Amen!

“ROCK IN MY POCKET,” POETRY KATHY BOECHER©

I carry in my pocket, a simple roughhewn rock,

It serves as a reminder of Jesus’ earthly walk,

He trudged o’er rocks and pebbles, His sandals filled with sand,

He kept on walking forward with mercy in his hand.

He spoke to simple people, from every walk of life,

He healed them from their sickness and took away their strife,

Providing food and water, He gave them so much more,

He gave them life eternal and opened heaven’s door,

This little rock I carry, reminds me of my Lord,

My rock and my salvation, whose love lasts evermore.