Gracing the Public Square

I love words. If you’ve been sitting on the All Things Southern porch for any time at all, that did not come as a news flash. Still, should validation ever be necessary, my darling husband would tell you that ample proof abounds in the home we share here on the banks of a lake in a town called by God’s name.

Words grace our walls, adorn our bookshelves and call from our throw pillows. There are funny signs, like the gift from my best friend hanging in the laundry room and proclaiming, “A skinny girl lives inside of me but I can usually shut her up with cookies” and there are signs that remind us of the house rules, “No whining.” There are over the door markers that speak blessings on all who enter and words I’ve stenciled on our walls, encouraging the reader to trust God’s heart when you can’t trace His hand. Phil’s been known to say that you can read your way from one end of this place to the other. The man speaks the truth.

Speaking of truth, that’s what you read the most as you walk through our home: solid gold truth from God’s own Word and stirring quotes from people of faith. These are the signs this word lover finds it hardest to resist and my dear man graciously overlooks my tendency to keep toting ‘em home.

I was thinking about all of my signs earlier when I heard someone reporting on yet another instance of God’s words being banned from a public place. That grieves me. If I had my way the public square would be adorned with God’s word just like our home. And yet, I reminded myself, and now I’m reminding you, that Scripture calls believers “living epistles”. Here’s a truth worthy of sober reflection: If those of us who are called by His name would live His Word and if we really would take up our crosses and carry them about with us, where society allows God’s Words to be mounted would be a mute point indeed.

Hugs, Shellie