A Cross In My Pocket!

Isn’t that precious! I should have put something with it to indicate the size, but those who work with crafts know it’s small enough to carry in my shirt pocket.  It came with a poem attributed to C. Jeanette Bergin and came to me from Horbling, Lincolnshire, England.  It was a gift from a lady I’ve only met on the web. One who has been kind enough to share her family, humor, stories, photos and who has read most of what I’ve written. I’m not certain that’s a fair exchange, for her life is much more interesting than mine!

Mrs. G and I share a lot of things – a love of dogs, a joy in gardening, the love of our children, grandchildren (she’s much too young to consider great-grands!!) and family in general.  We are separated by an ocean, a generation, culture and yet we share. That’s a blessing brought by technology and communication.

We started off on the wrong foot – my tendency for concise (terse?) comments, and my site being protected from her response. We were able to communicate beyond that first stumble and we’ve both written “You’ve made me think.” For me, that’s been a blessing.

Here’s the poem that came with the lovely cross:

I carry a cross in my pocket,
A simple reminder to me
That I am a Christian,
No matter where I may be.

This little cross isn’t magic,
Nor is it a good luck charm.
It isn’t meant to protect me
From every physical harm.

It’s not for identification
For all the world to see.
It’s simply an understanding
Between my Savior and me.

When I put my hand in my pocket
To bring out a coin or a key,
The cross is there to remind me
Of the price He paid for me.

It reminds me too, to be thankful
For my blessings every day,
And to strive to serve Him better
In all that I do or say.

I particularly like the line “It’s not for identification for all the world to see” because it will be in my pocket, or in my purse. I won’t need to see it or touch it, but I’ll know it’s there. I know because I saw it once and considered its source, given in love, a reminder of love.

You see, that’s what my Lord is to me. No – I have not seen Him in physical form, but I have seen the love of those who know Him. I’ve considered the source – mostly the Bible, but also the lives of those who dedicated theirs in His service. My Lord, just as this small cross, was a gift of love:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Thank you Mrs. G, for the lovely gift but mostly for your friendship. You are loved.