One day in early April about 15 years ago, when I was the minister on the North Shore of Cape Breton, my son was outside playing. It was a beautiful day and the warmth of the sun was melting the snow banks around the paved driveway.

After a time, he came running in the house to report what wonderful things were happening. All excited he said, "Dad, dad! I was drinking the water on the driveway (little rivulets were forming because of the melting sun) and it was so cold and sparkly… then I had to spit the rocks out." So I replied," That's all right son, you'll find that life is like that."

Being a Christian is not protection against illness or death or loneliness or despair unless we remember that Christ never promised that we would not be affected by them. God has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) My Peter learned a valuable lesson from nature when he was three and a half, and he has had opportunity since then to use the lesson learned. You have to meet the obstacles and overcome them and move on with the help of our ever-present Saviour.

Prayer: O Lord, in Your providence You have decided not to prevent problems from happening to us, but rather that you would protect us in our circumstances and deliver us out of them. Enable us to see Your hand of mercy in even the worst things. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Growing up, I had a grand-uncle John Lauchie, who was a gruff old farmer. He was married to Mable. My memories of them are from the time when they were in their late seventies. Both of them were getting old and it was hard for them to get around. Mable had always waited on John Lauchie hand and foot, to the point where if we were there and he was going to read something, he'd say, "Mable, run up and get my glasses".

Finally the day came when Mable died. My grand-uncle was devastated, completely inconsolable. The family got to the point where they were more than a little concerned with his ongoing grief. So my mother, who was a favorite niece, was appointed to speak to him. When she talked to him, she said, "Surely you noticed Mable getting old." He responded, "I noticed that I was getting old… I never noticed that Mable was getting old".

It depends on how you look at people or situations as to what you will see. If you seek the face of the living Christ and look with the eyes of love then you will find it.