For years I have been fascinated with my family's history. I've traced my family name, Ingalls, back to 1598, read about the struggles of the early settlers as they made their home on a lonely island, and discovered how one of my relatives came to Canada from Ireland. Grandma Jane met her future husband in 1846 after his ship, The Exile, was blown off course. Instead of landing in New York, he had to let the ship go with the wind, and, two months later, they ended up in Ireland.

Recently my great aunt Lila died in her 103rd year. She didn't have material riches to leave her family, but this morning I found some papers amongst her belongings that were covered in her handwriting, and I stopped to look. There, in carefully shaped letters, she had written a list of "ABCs".

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1 KJV)

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 KJV)

All the verses she had chosen give important instruction on how to live a life pleasing to God. But God's legacy and list of verses is much more complete than these ABCs. His Word tells us of the death of His beloved Son, Jesus, and the story of redemption. It is full of precious verses to guide our footsteps while we are here on earth and until the time we are reunited with Him in heaven.

Prayer: God, thank You for the words of comfort and guidance You have left us in your Word, the Bible. Amen.

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About the author:

Elaine Ingalls Hogg <authorhogg@yahoo.ca>
Smiths Creek, New Brunswick, Canada
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