Lofty Mountain Grandeur
I hope you don’t mind going on one more trip to the Smoky Mountains. As I mentioned recently, we visited Cades Cove. We saw tiny things that God made there.
We saw an intricate web that a spider wove . . .
and intricate buildings that residents once built and used.
I searched the gift shop for an appropriate Christmas ornament. Choices were few and I wasn’t sure that I wanted this log cabin because we had not seen this particular building. I finally decided to go ahead and purchase it.
When I checked out, the cashier told me that the cabin was once the home of her husband’s direct ancestors and that all of the people in her family were going to get one for Christmas.
The U.S. government displaced many families when it created Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and I have long been sad about that. “I’m sorry that you lost your family home when the area became a park,” I told her. She smiled and said that she figures the area would be filled with tourist places if the park were not there. She is glad that the park preserves it the way it is. What a kind and generous attitude she has.
It is wonderful that so many people have the opportunity to visit those mountains. My parents took us often when I was a child. When we sing “How Great Thou Art” at church and come to the line about lofty mountain grandeur, I imagine one of the Smoky Mountain overlooks I saw as a child.
I love to stand beside one of the many mountain streams in the Smokies. This one was near our picnic table in Cades Cove.
God is indeed One Who has created wonders and, as we said yesterday, moments of wonder.
The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the place which You established for them.
He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
They lift up their voices among the branches.
He waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.
Psalm 104:8,10-13