The Fair
Jeanne Helstrom, a Facebook Friend and former SR colleague who writes devotional, provides some thoughts from her visit to the North Idaho Fair this week:
“Some things never change…but then, some do. For years and years, since I was a child, the County Fair was the same. Same rides, same chickens, horses and llamas, same concession stands. Oh, there has been much improvement to the grounds over the decades…the mud was replaced by grass, then recently cement & asphalt walkways, covered outside eating areas, and numerous benches have been added for relaxing from all the walking. And the fair food ~ still delicious
…
!
“We attended yesterday afternoon and evening, and for the most part it was delightful. But it seemed…subdued. There wasn’t the usual population, although the weather was beautiful, and some of the highlights we always expected were not present. They had changed some of the locations for exhibits, but that was okay. I think one of the disappointments was that we barely saw anyone we knew, only a handful of old friends. So many new people in town. And, over the years, they have gone from calling it the County Fair, to the North Idaho Fair, and it is now the North Idaho State Fair. People watching…still fun.
But, life is full of change. Many years ago, I took my children for a ride in the country to show them where I lived as a little girl. Oh my goodness! When I saw our “farm” which was now sort of a subdivision, I literally cried. I thought to myself, “you really can’t go home again.” I was very disappointed. I still have wonderful memories of living there in the country as a kid, but it would never be the same. I’m sure we all have memories that have stayed with us through the years. Sometimes we reminisce and wish it could still be the same.
I do know that there is one thing that will never change, and that’s our need for a Savior. And the Word tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). And in Malachi 3:6, God declared, “I, the Lord, do not change.” I am so thankful that we can count on that, and know that His grace, mercy and abounding love will never diminish, no matter how un-trustworthy we become.
We may change our beliefs, our ways, our minds, but He’s always the same. We may change jobs, homes, marital status, friends, but Jesus never leaves us. Even when we don’t pay much attention to Him, He still hangs around. And no matter where we go, or what we do, or whom we become, He is always present, whether we recognize Him or not. And I am so thankful. His love for me is something that I can count on every day ~ it will never change, except maybe to grow deeper!
From my heart, Jeanne
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog