This little chest belonged to my mother who kept it in the spare bedroom closet in the farmhouse where I grew up. Mom used to store special pieces of jewelry and similar treasures in it. Somehow, this chest came into my possession after her death in 1993. Mom’s treasures are long gone, but some years ago Gloria began putting some of our own ‘special treasures’ in the chest. We had forgotten all about the chest until COVID-19 gave us the opportunity to start sorting through ‘stuff’ and we found it on a shelf in our storage closet.

Among other ‘treasures’ in that chest, we found a note my sister had written to Gloria to tell her that my room-mate at Huron College had professed faith in Christ on the previous Sunday, January 20, 1963. Needless to say, that news prompted rejoicing in North Bay, where Gloria was attending Teachers College, as well as among the angels in heaven.

Some years after we were married, our children began to write little notes, some of which ended up in the treasure chest. It seems that one of our kids had a romantic nature from an early age and even wrote a note to affirm it. The note was both brief (12 words in total) and direct. “Dear (name), I love you. Don’t tell dad or any body else.” Perhaps the note was never delivered which may explain why we found it and put it away in the chest. Another note, written after one of our children went to a friend’s house during a blizzard (without telling mom) was 15 words in length. It read “To Mom, I have never been so bad in all my life. I’m very sorry.” Needless to say, forgiveness was granted immediately.

We also found a letter we received from a teenager who had been romantically involved for a time with one of our kids. An excerpt from this letter reads “I have truly grown to respect you both over the years I’ve known you. While at times, I questioned your stand on some issues (like curfews! 😊) I am so glad (and humbled) to say The LORD has shown me the rebelliousness in my heart & shown me that you were godly parents, worthy of honour and admiration. Thank you so much for this example to me. I pray that one day I will be as faithful and attentive to my family as you both are.” No doubt you can understand why this letter made it into the treasure chest.

The chest also contained a letter that my mother had written to Gloria after we had broken up for a time during our late teens. On page 3 of that letter, Mom wrote: “You weren’t wrong when you said I felt badly about the way things went with you & Gerald but I still haven’t given up hope ... I liked you so much from when we came here ... We all thought so much of you – it was a big disappointment, but I haven’t altogether given up hope. I think the Lord can work on him and if it is His will, well things will work out.”

Mom’s hopes and prayers were answered. Yesterday, July 3^rd, we celebrated our 55^th wedding anniversary. I thank the Lord for answering my mother’s prayers in enabling me to see the light!

It is not often that an elder has the opportunity to share intimate details from his personal life, but I chose to do so today for two reasons. First, I want to encourage mothers to keep on praying for what they understand to be God’s will for their children and their future mate. My other reason, is to acknowledge that as a teenager, I was not nearly as wise as I thought. I tended to come up with a ‘bright idea’ that seemed perfect at the time, but just as quickly, I would trade it in for a different ‘bright idea’. I am so grateful that God had placed some older godly men in my path who were willing to listen to me and share their insight and wise counsel with me. I readily acknowledge that I would not be who or where I am today without their gracious input to my life. For each of them, as well as for my parents, I praise the Lord.

Early in our marriage, Gloria and I chose two verses to guide our lives. From the Old Testament we chose Joshua 24:15b “But as for me and my [our] household, we will serve the Lord.” And from the New Testament we chose 3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” We praise God for making these verses especially relevant to us.

For the precious memories that came flooding into our minds as we looked through the old ‘Treasure Chest’ and for the joy we have now in fellowshipping with you all at West London Alliance, we praise and thank the Lord, who has made it all possible. These ‘treasures’ are worth much more to us than jewelry or gold. Amen.