"IMPORTANT"

Clint and Cheryl grew up on Pine Knob mountain in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Their parent’s small family farm was a stone’s throw north of Krebs Lake, the primary water supply to the City of Krebs, known as Oklahoma’s “Little Italy” which is also home to three of the area’s four world famous Italian restaurants.

Across a couple of open fields but in plain view was the house of their maternal grandmother, “Gram.” Living close by to their grandmother was a unique and loving experience to say the least. Also unique was Clint and Cheryl both shared the same birthday date except Clint was born a year earlier. Yes, growing up on the family farm with mountain fresh air and a loving “Gram” was about as good as life could get.

Neither Clint or Cheryl liked snowy weather but the heavier snowfalls thrilled them. Not because of missing school or having fun sledding and building a snowman but because Clint and Cheryl would go to the store for “Gram.”

At an unknown point in their youth, after one snowstorm or another, Clint and Cheryl decided they must plod across the field through snow, no matter the depth, to see if “Gram” needed anything from the store. Now “Gram” lived in a huge old farmhouse, had always cooked for many, and could have at any point in time prepared a meal for thirty or forty out of what she had in her cabinets and refrigerator. That was not even touching what was stored in her cellar.

Still, Clint and Cheryl were sure “Gram” needed something and they would save the day by trudging through snow to ask, trekking through snow to the store, then slogging back through the snow with the precious items they knew she needed badly but was unable to get out and get. Proud of their impending usefulness, they stomped snow from their boots and headed inside “Gram’s” house for what was sure to be a massive grocery list. How else could she make it to the spring thaw if not for their efforts? Or, so they thought.

“Well,” Gram started speaking as she watched the snow blow against the window, you all can get me some vanilla extract. They knew “Gram” did a lot of baking but she didn’t ask for milk or break or even coffee. Just vanilla extract. But, if it was important to “Gram” it was important to them and this vanilla extract was apparently very necessary. How fortuitous that they walked across the snowy fields and asked “Gram” if she needed anything they would remark to themselves. Off to the store in the foul weather, vanilla extract purchased, and back to “Gram’s.” They returned cold, soaked, red-cheeked, and tired but happy they accomplished their mission of help. They had that feeling of value.

That pattern repeated for a few years after every snowfall of every winter. If there were two heavy snows in a winter, “Gram” somehow needed two bottles of vanilla extract. Clint and Cheryl’s timing was uncanny. How relevant they felt they were. It was important for “Gram” to have that vanilla extract and without them her hopes would have been dashed. They felt an amazing sense of accomplishment and pride after helping. They were just kids, but they liked knowing they helped and their efforts mattered!

Years later as adults, Clint and Cheryl were talking to “Gram” on her back porch after a summer family get together. Tripping down memory lane, the conversation got around to those long ago winters and snowfalls. Cheryl asked “Gram” why she needed so much vanilla extract. She thought for a minute then with a big wide grin “Gram” replied; “I didn’t need any vanilla extract but I knew it was important for you kids to help so that is what I asked for.”

Still sporting a big grin she followed up by saying she didn’t remember exactly but there were times she probably could have used something else but she would never have asked them to haul groceries in the snow. She only “needed” vanilla extract because she knew it mattered to them to be of help and it was easy for them to carry!

A few years after that trip down memory lane conversation, with “Gram” now gone and her house being emptied, Clint and Cheryl stood in her kitchen emptying the cabinets. Pushed into one corner were dozens of bottles of vanilla extract, some still in their original tiny cardboard boxes. They didn’t know if any of those might have been purchased in a snowstorm of the past, but they both slipped one into their pockets just the same.

By trying to do something they thought important for her, “Gram” gave them a feeling to be needed and that they were important.

Both Clint and Cheryl sent their kids for vanilla extract when they were little. Not literally, but when they recognized in their faces that need to please by doing right, to feel important, to matter, they made sure they needed vanilla extract and made sure they knew it was very helpful. Every kid should be sent to get vanilla extract and often.

God knows we, as His children, have the same need to do things which make us matter and feel important. How important are we to God Almighty? Immensely important times millions and millions.

First of all, we cannot really comprehend how much we matter to God other than we know it is more than we can fathom. Consider the fact God knew each and everyone of us before we were born. (Jeremiah 1:5) He created each of us with a specific purpose in mind, a purpose for earth and for eternity. (Psalm 139)

Secondly, we should salt down the fact that God, out of everything He has created such as the planets, stars and galaxies that exist along with all the the mountains, rivers, lakes, animals, plants, and everything else that is on this earth plus every angelic being and living creature that God has ever created…you and I are His most valuable possession. (James 1:17-18)

To drill down on the truth we are His most important creation, add the fact God created us in His own image and He gave humans power and dominion over every living thing. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Yet the coup de grace and I do mean the clincher of clinchers is the fact God considers each of us so important to Him that He sent Jesus to die for all of our sins, selfishness and salacity so we could be made acceptable to live with Him forever and forever inside the Pearly Gates. Oh Man and Amen! Then, when we get to the streets paved with gold we can look at God’s hands where He plainly assures us He has written our names on the palms of His hand. (Isaiah 49:16)

Since we know how important we are to God and there is no doubt each of our photos are on His fridge and in His wallet, we must ask ourselves how important is God to us?

God wants to know if He is more important to us than money? (Psalm 119:72) Than food? (Psalm 119:103) Than sleep? (Psalm 119:147-148) Simply stated, the old adage of “God’s Word is meant to be bread for daily use and not cake for special occasions” certainly hits the nail on the head.

Heavenly Father, thank You making us the favorite of all Your creations. Thank You for making each and every one of us so important to You. Please forgive us when we do not treat You with the importance we should. Never let us lose sight of the fact life has many choices but eternity only has two. Just as the old gospel song “Didn’t It Rain” states; “God got the key and we can’t get in” unless we have the Lord. Yes, Jesus is truly our get out of Hell free card!