My Father's Special Book

Candy Berry

 My father had a special Book that he kept right by his side.

It was the Holy Word of God and by its words he did abide.

He carried it to church with him and studied it at home.

And I often sat and watched him as through its pages he would roam.

Perhaps the nicest memory that I have of this dear man,

is knowing that he studied this Book and learned of God's great plan.

A note on every page he wrote and its scriptures underlined.

And the words that he would read there were all kept inside his mind.

He memorized the chapters, its verses he could quote.

And upon the tiny margins you could see the words that he wrote.

Perhaps a thought that came to mind and he would jot it down.

Or a corresponding scripture to another he had found.

This Book he thought so much of became a friend to him.

It would comfort him in sorrow and show him what was sin.

He lived his life by what he found written on its pages.

Rejoicing in the knowledge that it had lasted through the ages.

He taught his children with the Book and showed them what was right.

He told them it would lead them and guide them toward the Light.

Over the years he watched it as the Book became torn and tattered.

The words were smudged and smeared with ink, the binding all but shattered.

The pages yellowed over time and crumbled at the touch.

But he knew that it would never change the Word he loved so much.

This Book he knew would always stay close beside his heart.

For it had helped his Christian life right from the very start.

But the day had come he realized, it was near the final end.

So he got a box and tucked away his very special Friend.

The One that would replace it was beautiful and new.

It was bound in pure grain leather and was viewed by very few.

He thought it was quite different, its pages clean and white.

And he opened up its scriptures and then began to write.

A note on every page he wrote and its scriptures underlined.

And the words that he would read there were all kept inside his mind.

 
- 3212 Bartlett St., Parkersburg, WV 26104.

 

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