Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

This past week a thoughtless word carried me back to a pain of the past. A deep wound inflicted upon me by my father was reopened. This man had no idea of that wound, there was no evil intention, it was just his speech to me reminded me of how it felt to be wounded by my father.

I thought I had dealt with that pain and have tried putting it out of my mind, but some memories run very deep. The deepest are love crushers. It crushed love then, it crushed love now. Recognizing the pain I sought counsel and prayer.

This morning as I open the Word and read here is Psalm 51:12 with a Word of direction. It is the Lord that restores my soul. Simple Words of forgiveness of the mouth, falling on deaf ears for my father is long past, do nothing to erase the memory. Maybe nothing will erase that memory for it is there to teach me the dangers of harsh words. Since those days I have found the joy of my salvation and this incident stole that from me.

My joy can and is restored because my Lord is stronger and more able than my memory.

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Truth resides in my mind alongside my wound to cover it with grace.