---Surely Goodness And Mercy Shall Follow Me~

--"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
---(PSALM 23:6) --

---SITTING FRONT and center at old Uncle Hubert's funeral was Aunt Ruth, a tiny woman flanked by her two elder sons. All three sported a cloud of fluffy white hair.

--The Minister began the service. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want---"
Aunt Ruth jumped in: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." Embarrassed, she lifted both hands to her mouth. Uncle Rodney, on her right, tucked a comforting arm about her slight shoulders to let her know the outburst didn't matter.

The preacher continues. "He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul."
"He leaded me in the paths of righteousness---" Aunt Ruth blushed this time and bowed to hide her face. To her left, Uncle Bill reached for one of her hands. Affectionately, he patted her gnarled old fingers.

"--for his name's sake," continued the preacher. "Yea, though I walk--"
Aunt Ruth couldn't help herself. Every time the preacher started in, she interrupted. The words of the Twenty-Third Psalm were so alive in her soul she couldn't keep still, no matter her embarrassment and my amused smile.

Suddenly, the minister looked up from his Bible with his own smile for Aunt Ruth, and he held out his hand in invitation. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil..."

Aunt Ruth sat tall--though still very tiny--between her two sons. "My cup runneth over," she joyfully joined in. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. And ever and ever and ever!" She clasped her hands and then opened them like the wings of a butterfly. "Forever!" ~~

--Guideposts/BW~
-"You Make Me Brave"// (Amanda Cook/ lyrics)<https://youtu.be/2YE3l0tEh3c>
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