Thursday Thankfulness...Psalm 91 at work

 I hadn't really planned on writing again today, but then I received something special via text late last night and I wanted to share it with you, as it is again, another "sign" of God's protection and care for our loved ones.

I've mentioned before that our grandson is on a cross country camping adventure.  Occasionally he texts us some pictures of where they are as they continue their journey across country, and are currently still in the southwest.  Last night, just as we were getting ready for bed I heard my phone make the familiar texting jingle, and my first thought was, "Oh No! Who's sending texts this late? I hope there isn't a problem!"  So I quickly went to my phone and checked, and here was the message I found from our grandson:

"Made it to the Grand Canyon. Got stuck in it for a night but I was able to hike out.

It was very hard. It was a 4 mile hike out up 4500 feet. My legs are super sore. 

Hope all is going well with y'all. 

Much Love."

Well, you can imagine my joy in hearing from him, but like any grandmother, you can also imagine the feelings and thoughts running rampant about what he must have endured being "stuck in it (the Grand Canyon) for a night but was able to hike out..."   To my knowledge, until this particular cross-country trip, our grandson has not had much experience in hiking and climbing or even camping, for that matter. Yes, he is 22 years old, and he isn't really alone. There's three other people with him, two girls and another guy. Again, I am not aware that any of them had any great experience in hiking/climbing, etc.  But they do have youth and resilience on their side, and hopefully they are learning important survival skills along the way.  Nevertheless, my first thought was, "Thank God they are out safely!"  Here's a few pictures he sent today to show where they have been:

Yikes! That's not my grandson, but one of their group. Making my palms sweaty, that's for sure!

And since he's taking these pictures, well, yeah...I am a bit nervous...

Pretty amazing, huh???

We had not heard from him for a couple of weeks and I was beginning to get concerned because he had been trying to communicate at least once a week. My husband and I have consistently prayed for them every single night, especially praying for their safety as they travel, camp in deserted places, and try to support themselves financially by doing whatever odd jobs they can find along the way.  This past week in particular I felt very strongly to pray for their safety even more deliberately. And now I understand why.  Being "stuck" in the Grand Canyon for a night sounds rather frightful to me. But they were never alone. God was always with them, and I praise God that He helped them get back out again with nothing worse than sore legs!  

Today he said that he will have to call when he can because they are "in the Navajo Nation and service has been spotty ever since the canyon."  I had to look up the Navajo Nation to see exactly what that was.

HERE is a link to their website.  I guess I didn't realize they had their own government, etc.  Very interesting stuff to read there!  

This led me to thinking about something I remembered that our grandson's father (our son Matthew) had done when he was a young boy in about 4th grade.  Like most young boys at that time he seemed to have an interest in "Cowboys and Indians".  He was taking art lessons and painted this picture of this Native American warrior:

It now hangs in our guest room.  I believe he entered it in the county fair back then and may have won a ribbon, but for some reason I do not have the ribbon. Anyway, it's a blue ribbon prize winner in my mind for sure!

And then his 4th grade teacher taught them how to make "Fry Bread", which is also known as Navajo Fry Bread.  Here is the recipe he had, written in his own hand:

HERE is a link to an online recipe for Navajo Fry Bread, in case you want to try it.  I see it calls for warm milk instead of warm water, so I don't know how different it would taste.  I do remember Matthew making this at home for us after he learned about it in school. Precious memories from days long gone by.  I wonder if there's "Navajo Fry Bread" in heaven?  If so, Matthew is probably enjoying some.

Okay, that's what I got for today... I am VERY thankful for God's protection over our grandson and his friends while they travel and explore God's beautiful country. 

Psalm 91 pretty well describes the prayer and comfort that I have for our grandson:

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

"1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

Amen.