The little spot of earth where our home stands is filled with rocks. We had no idea of the immense number, or various sizes, of rocks when we purchased the property. But, as we began to landscape with trees, a split rail fence, gardens and a deck, it was amazing to discover significant rocks every time a hole was dug.
Soon the found rocks made quite a pile and we began using them in our landscaping projects. The small rocks line our gardens’ edges, while the large rocks provide seating and garden focal points. We even created a large rock garden on a back yard hill because we had so many rocks.
Interestingly enough, I believe for every rock that is now above ground on our property, there is also a rock below ground. In fact, some of those below ground are so large that they could not be moved when we attempted to dig holes for one reason or another. Consequently, a tree here and there is not planted in the chosen spot; and a deck footing had to be shifted to accommodate the rock that could not be moved.
Up until a few weeks ago I didn’t think much of all of our rocks, except that they were annoying, while at the same time they were handy inexpensive landscaping features. Needless to say, I am well aware of the scripture verses that reference stones of remembrance. But, it wasn’t until I read a particularly significant verse that I began to view our own pile of rocks a bit differently. In The Message, I Samuel 7:12 reads: “He named it Ebenezer (Rock of Help) saying, ‘This marks the place where God helped us.’ “ With those words I began to contemplate the idea that our home is perched on a “pile of remembrances.”
Our home, with all of its varied stones and rocks is marked as the place where God helped us. I dare say that for each stone we could bring to remembrance a time of help found in God’s gracious strength and power.
We live on our own precious pile of remembrances. Those rocks have never looked so sweet!
