PICTURE the scene. An old-fashioned sweet shop, with an old-fashioned grandad behind the counter. Into the shop came a lady with her grandson whose eyes filled with anticipated delight as he viewed the display in front of him,

“Would you like to choose your favourite sweet?” asked the man. The offer did not seem to please the boy who quickly backed away. The more the man tried to encourage him, the more obstinate the boy became. Eventually the man took down the jar of chocolate éclair toffees, removed the lid, and told the boy to help himself.

For some reason that made the boy cry, so the man put his own hand in, grabbed a fistful, and gave them to him. The boy immediately responded with a big smile and said: “Thank you, sir!”

“Why the change?” the man asked.

“Well,” said the boy, “your hand is bigger than mine!”

The hymn writer John Milton ended one of his hymns with this verse:

“All things living he doth feed,

His full hand supplies their need:

For his mercies shall endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.”

When we lived in Goole, I led a series of lessons with mentally-handicapped children. As part of the series, we used jazzed up versions of choruses. The children, dancing to the music, really loved this one:

“I am in his hands, I am in his hands,

Whate’er the future holds, I am in his hands.

The days I cannot see, have all been planned for me,

His way is best you see, I am in his hands.”

Another song we love says:

“With arms wide open,

He’ll pardon you.

It is no secret, what God can do.”

Psalm 117 is the smallest chapter in the Bible and, with 594 chapters before it and 594 chapters after it, its message is central both to the Bible and the love of God. The chapter ends with verse two:

“For his merciful kindness is great towards us;

And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Praise ye the Lord.”

Alistair Dawson

Retired Salvation Army officer