Ruby Hayes - Ruby's Kitchen Table (Page 3)

Watercolor of a row of filled pint jars of apple butter with handwritten labels on a farmhouse kitchen counter

devotional

The whole day

"From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised."* — Psalm 113:3 Short prayer this morning. Just the list and the minute and done. The week is almost over and the week was a big week and this morning

Watercolor of a faded handwritten card propped on a kitchen windowsill above the sink, autumn fields outside

devotional

When you pass through

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you."* — Isaiah 43:2 This verse came back to me this week the way a song comes back — not because I went looking for it but because it was

devotional

Apple butter

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."* — Psalm 118:24 The apple butter is on the stove. I started it this morning at seven with a bushel of apples from the tree in the back yard and by

Watercolor of a wide cut hayfield in autumn with round bales, an old wire fence in front and orange trees along the horizon

devotional

Because it's the fence

"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death."* — Song of Solomon 8:6 Earl would have been eighty today. I am not going to tell you about missing him because I have told you about that

Watercolor of an old cream wall telephone with a coiled cord hanging on a yellow farmhouse kitchen wall

devotional

The night before

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."* — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) Dan called at eight. I picked up on the second ring and said hello and he said hey Mama and I said hey, and that was the first

Watercolor of a dark kitchen window before dawn with a potted herb on the sill and a lamp glowing faintly in the room

devotional

The week is here

"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul."* — Psalm 25:1 Monday morning and the week is here and I know what day is coming and I am not going to talk about it yet. The list was the usual. Edna. Dan. Hannah. The boy. The woman

Watercolor of a cast-iron woodstove lit for the first time on a brick hearth, a rag rug in front and a green wing chair beside it

sunday-letter

Sunday evening — October 11

"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.'"* — Psalm 91:1-2 It is Sunday evening and October has settled

Watercolor of a Sunday school felt board on an easel with a felt figure of a woman on a road, folding chairs and colored pencils

devotional

Why Ruth stays

"Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."* — Matthew 18:3 The lesson this morning was Ruth and Naomi and I told the story the way I have told it for thirty years, which is to say I told it simply

Watercolor of a dew-covered white porch railing on a cold October morning, mist over a country road and trees beyond

devotional

The list I can carry

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."* — Philippians 4:6-7 Saturday morning and

Watercolor of a kitchen window with small clay pots on the sill looking out on autumn fields and trees

devotional

Like grass

"As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone."* — Psalm 103:15-16 The psalmist says our days are like grass and I have been trying all week to make that

Watercolor of a white farmhouse in early spring at the end of a dirt drive, daffodils along the fence and a dogwood in bloom

devotional

The first April

"In my Father's house there are many dwelling places."* — John 14:2 I was looking out the kitchen window this morning at the yard and the fence and the barn and the field beyond, and I was remembering the first April. We moved here in March

Watercolor of a closed-up vegetable garden in October, bare beds inside a tall wire fence, a wheelbarrow of spent vines by the gate

devotional

The garden is done

"He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry."* — Psalm 147:8-9 Henry came by this morning and I was already in the garden