Twelve Stones

      Image by Daniel Bishop on ChatGPT

“What are you doing with those stones, Rita?” Henry asked his wife.

            “Well,” she got that twinkle in her eyes when she worked on something she thought was clever. “I was reading in Joshua 4, where the Israelites had just crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land. When they got to the Jordan, it was at flood stage and the priests took the Ark of the Covenant and, as soon as they stepped into the Jordan, God cleared a path through the river so the Israelites could cross over. When they got to the other side, God told Joshua to tell the twelve tribes to pick one man from each tribe to take a stone from the middle of the river where the priests were still standing.”

             “I don’t remember that story.” Henry stroked his beard. “It’s been a minute since I read Joshua.”

            “They were told to bring the twelve stones to the place where they would lodge that night and make a memorial to remember when God cut off the waters of the Jordan before the Ark of the Covenant and the people passed over on dry ground. It was to remind them of God’s provision and deliverance. So,” she grabbed a stone and held it up. “There’s twelve months in a year and it being January and us writing our goals for the year, I thought it would be good to write one thing for each month on the stone for that month that reminds me of what God has done for me. His provision and deliverance for me. We may go through tough times and it may feel like God is nowhere around and I can look at the stone for that month and remind me of that time God was there and provided for me. I thought about just writing some things down on paper, but I decided to use the stones.”

            “What are you writing on the June stone?”

            “Your name since we met in June and were married a year later in June. I had given up on getting married and then I met you and felt like God arranged our meeting.”

            “I knew it. Since I’m the best thing that’s happened to you.”

            “If you’re not careful,” she smiled and her eyes sparked. “This June stone will turn into a tombstone when I chuck it at you.”