1917-2010

Her favorite psalm, the 91st.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, 
  who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress;
  my Go, in whom I trust."
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
  and from the deadly pestilence;
He will cover you with his pinions,
  and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
  You will not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.


A thousand may fall at your side,
  ten thousand at your right hand;
But it will not come near you.
  You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
  Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your habitation,
  no evil shall befall you,
No scourge come near your tent.
  For He will give his angels charge of you
To guard you in all your ways.
  On their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
  You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent
  you will trample under foot.
Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
  I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
  I will be with him in trouble,
  I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
  and show him my salvation.

I wonder why she looked at the world as such a dangerous, treacherous place. Her fears were tangible, permeating her life with visions of disaster and horror. She took great comfort in words like these. She felt safe.

I know that wherever you are now, today, and always; you are safe.

Doris Bain Thompson
1917 - 2010