God Always Keeps His Promises – with Renee

By Rebecca Holsapple

Renee was walking home from the bus stop by herself today, her sister Addison was at their grandparents’ house for the week. They would each do that once a year. It was always a wonderful time. Grandpa and Grandma would always plan a couple fun outings and make sure they had her favorite foods in the house. They would spend evenings catching up and playing fun board games. It was a time to reconnect with them since they lived several hours away and the girls only saw them a few times a year.

Renee would get to go in 2 months and she was really looking forward to it. It also meant missing a week of school, and just bringing some work along to do at Grandma and Grandpa’s kitchen table with some milk and the best homemade cookies anyone ever tasted.

 Renee reached the front door and she heard music coming from the house, mom must be washing the floors, she always listened to her favorite CD when she did that.

“Hey mom!” Renee got to the edge of the kitchen

Mom greeted her with a big smile.  “Don’t you just love the smell of freshly washed floors?” “I’ll be done in just a second; I put a snack on the dining room table for you.”

“It does smell great, so lemony! I’ll go get that snack, I am famished!” Renee walked to the dining room table.

Beside her snack was a letter from her friend Cassandra. Renee opened in quickly, she hadn't heard from her in months. Cassandra and Renee had met at summer camp 3 years ago; they had shared a cabin and become instant friends. On the last day of camp they promised to write each other at least once a month from that point on. They had both kept that promise until recently, Cassandra’s letter had stopped coming as often, Renee had only received 2 letters in the last 6 months. She kept writing faithfully but without answers from her friend it was hard to know what to write about. Renee was saddened by that, and wondered if their friendship would last.

Renee read the letter but it was very short and lacking any details about what was going on in Cassandra’s life. Renee put it down, letting out a sigh. Mom walked into the room at that moment.

“What was that giant sigh about sweetie?” Mom had a frown on her face; she could tell something was wrong.

“Oh Cassandra finally wrote…” Renee took a bit of the piece of pie in front of her.

“And that’s a bad thing?” Mom asked

“No, I guess not…” Renee said. “But do you remember when she would write once a month and her letters were so interesting?”

“Yes, you were always so excited to get them!” said mom with a smile.

“Well… they aren’t like that anymore. Her letters are kind of boring, not even half a page and nothing about how she is feeling or what is going on, just a few random facts about the weather and her cat.” Renee sighed again.

“I’m sorry sweetheart. Maybe there isn't much happening.” Mom said trying to make Renee feel better.

“What bothers me the most is that she promised she would write once a month and her letters are getting further and further apart! She isn't keeping her promise” Renee was on the verge of tears. She hadn't realized how much the letter meant to her until she started talking about it.

“Do you always keep your promises honey?” Mom asked.

Renee didn’t answer right away, she thought about the time she had promised Addison she would clean the bathroom for her so she could study for an important test and didn't do it, or the time she promised mom she would pick up a book from the library and didn't do it. The more she thought about it the more she realized she had broken several promises.

“I guess not…”said Renee.

“Do you know what? Promises are a good thing, but it’s not fair to expect for someone to be perfect. It will ruin your friendship. The only person that will never break a promise is the only person that is truly perfect. Do you know who that is?” Mom was looking at Renee with kind eyes.

“Do you mean God?” Renee smiled.

“That’s exactly who I mean. We all make mistakes, we all sin, and we all break promises. Is it a good thing? No. Is it disappointing to others? Yes. Do you need to ask them and God for forgiveness? Certainly. But is it likely to happen again? Of course. Do you see where I am going with that?” Mom asked Renee.

“Yes, I need to forgive Cassandra…”said Renee.

“That’s right.” Mom smiled. “When I was your age, or maybe just a bit older, my best friend moved away to another state. I was devastated; I remember spending a few nights crying into my pillow. It seemed no one understood how upset I was. My mom promised me that we would go visit her that following summer. But a couple months later my dad lost his job at the plant and money got tight. By the time summer came, there wasn't enough money to go visit my friend. My mom and dad wanted to keep the promise they make me, but couldn't. Do you think it would have been OK for me to hold a grudge?"

“No! They didn't mean to break their promise!” Renee answered.

“Exactly, but it my young upset mind, I didn't want to forgive them. I wanted to be mad. So I was for a while until God convicted me. I apologized and a few months later, my dad got a new, better job and we went to visit my friend for a weekend during the school year. That experience made me realize that even when we have the best of intentions, we are only human and we all fall short”, Said Mom.

“Everyone except God!” said Renee with a smile.

“I’m sure you remember the story of Noah, it had rained for 40 days and 40 nights. And the water didn't go back down for 150 days. That’s a long time. God cleaned the earth, and when Noah and his family finally got out of the ark, they made an altar and offered a sacrifice to God. And what did God do in return? Do you remember?”  asked Mom.

“Do you mean the rainbow?”said Renee.

“Yes, sweetie. God put a rainbow in the sky as a promise that he would never again flood the earth.” Mom smiled. “Did he keep that promise?”

“Yes, I haven’t heard of any worldwide floods lately” Renee giggled at her own joke.

Mom laughed. “That’s right! We still see that rainbow and you know every time I see one, I am reminded never to worry, because the amazing God we serve never breaks his promises. He is ever faithful and true.”

“I love that mom, now that’s what I’ll be thinking too next time a rainbow appears in the sky.” Renee was feeling much better.

“You know what mom, I was thinking earlier about how much fun Addison must be having at Grandpa and Grandma’s right now and how I can’t wait for it to be my turn, but I had forgotten how much  I love spending the week alone with you and dad too! For quiet times like this when we get to have a conversation just the two of us.” Renee leaned in and gave her mom a hug.

Mom hugged her back. “I love this too. You are growing into such a sweet young lady.”

Dad walked in the door a few minutes later and suggested they go out to eat and go get some ice cream afterwards to celebrate Renee staying home with them. Renee sent a quite prayer of thanks to God for giving her such amazing parents.

THE END

Bible verse:

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”

Deuteronomy 7:9