CAMDEN — By Richard Merritt
Mom kept her treasures close to her.
She was an elementary-school teacher at Fairview for many years, and a member of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. She had a shoe box full of Al Rose poems and columns clipped from the Camden News. A similar box had religious treasures cut from the Missionary Baptist Searchlight.
She kept my letters from band camp which I wrote between my junior and senior years of high school. Mom kept some plastic dish soap containers on which her mother carved birds and roosters.
Mom loved the table top of polished rocks Grandma made, memories from college and pictures in her college yearbook and a sawmill book about Old Forester in Scott County near Waldron where she lived as a girl. She loved the simple things that were treasures of the heart.
I am thankful for treasures of the heart. I have my special treasures of memories and special worldly possessions that mean so much to me but will mean nothing after I step into eternity.
My eternal treasures of the heart include my wife, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, Trinity Missionary Baptist Church and God’s call to preach.
The greatest treasure of my heart is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45 KJV)
At the end of life’s road, the only treasure we can take with us is our salvation.
“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6 KJV)
We may leave behind our dentures, billfolds, purses, watches, cell phones, electronic devices and many other things, but we will not leave behind our relationship with Jesus.
No treasure can compare to God’s precious gift of salvation.
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:6, 7 KJV)
After my salvation and my family, there are special treasures in my heart for which I am very thankful. Friends that do not forsake you, are willing to forgive you and continue to love you are special gifts from God. Our church family is a wonderful treasure.
I am thankful for the treasure of God’s Word.
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Luke 21:33 KJV)
Bible verses are a continuing source of comfort, strength, hope and encouragement.
The gift of music is a treasure that has been one of the great loves of my life. I began to take piano lessons in the third grade and took beginner band in the trumpet section in the fifth grade.
I love to play southern gospel, some pop songs, ragtime and a smattering of other types of music. God gives talent but He expects us to develop it and use it to glorify His name.
Thanksgiving is a special day set aside to remember God’s blessings and praise Him for who He is and what He has done.
My God is faithful to do great things, wonderful things and unexpected things.
One way to thank God for godly parents is to remember their teaching about worshiping the Lord faithfully.
A good way to say thank you to moms and dads is to sit by them in church. If they are gone, honor their memory by going to the house of God with a thankful spirit.
Try being thankful, you’ll like it.
(Merritt is the pastor at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.)