Robes of care

In the meantime, the boy Samuel continued to serve the LORD, wearing a sacred linen apron. Each year his mother would make a little robe and take it to him when she accompanied her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say to Elkanah, ‘May the LORD give you other children by this woman to take the place of the one you dedicated to him.’ (verses 18-20a)

Read 1 Samuel 2:12–26

Our children outgrow their dressing-gowns at an astonishing rate! They love to wear them after dinner on a cold night. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly one little robe gets passed on down to the next little brother or sister, and how often we have to go shopping to buy another larger robe for a now slightly larger child.

Just like Hannah, who patiently attended to the clothing needs of her young growing boy, Samuel, so the Lord has patiently attended to all our needs, be they clothes for the body or the spirit. He is our heavenly Father, who faithfully makes his robe of righteousness fit us year after year.

Let’s enjoy the hand-made robe of forgiveness and freedom won by Jesus today, and enjoy the care of our Father in heaven every day.

Heavenly Father, clothe me with your peace, faith and love in Jesus Christ today and always, so that I may always serve you faithfully. Amen.

by Adrian Kitson, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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