A Stump and a Seesaw

There’s an overlooked courtyard, just off the dining room of the nursing home where my wife and I sing. It’s been there all along, these past nine years, but I found it for the first time today.

When we arrived, several residents were enjoying mobility exercises with the activity director. So, after setting up, I had time to look around. It was then that I noticed the sign on a door leading outside, “Not an Exit.”  This read like a challenge, to a reformed ornery little boy like me. “Not an Exit, huh?  I’ll see about that.”

It was a walled in courtyard all right, and I’m no longer young enough to shimmy up a downspout, cross over the roof, and jump down to the street. Thirty years ago, I would have. But I digress.

It’s just as well, as the scene inside the quad provided quite a paradox. The enclosure is punctuated by a tree stump, surrounded by half-living shrubs and bushes, with a copper sculpture, of two young children enjoying a seesaw, in the background.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)

Word to the wise: none of us are getting out of here alive. Sooner or later, our earthly bodies will be like that sad stump. On the other hand, the seesaw is a reminder that the soul never dies. (But I’m guessing there are no playgrounds in hell.)

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV)

Kind reader, have you trusted in Jesus Christ to take your soul to heaven?  He will do it, if you ask Him, and you won’t turn green—like the kids on the teetertotter.  

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! 🙏❤️ prayers and love.


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20 responses to “A Stump and a Seesaw”

  1. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I agree, Pastor Pete. What greater joy could there be than to be in God’s presence forever? Unless one is in big trouble, of course.😑 But that’s not what heaven is for.

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  2. pastorpete51 Avatar

    I love the sculpture of the children. Though there may be no playgrounds in heaven there certainly will be a restoration of that childish delight we once knew.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. davidsdailydose Avatar

    When I was half as young as now, I would have tried!

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  4. jesusluvsall Avatar

    I would have enjoyed watching you try to use that exit door 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  5. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen , Nancy! How beautiful heaven must be!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Nancy Ruegg Avatar

    It never occurred to me that there might be playgrounds in heaven! But even decades past my last foray on a merry-go-round, I still remember the joy of trying out every apparatus of every park our family ever visited! Even if heaven includes no playgrounds, our joy will surely surpass what we experienced years ago–at the playground, at the amusement park, on Christmas morning–all rolled into one!

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Beth Alisan Avatar

    “Sooner or later, our earthly bodies will be like that sad stump. On the other hand, the seesaw is a reminder that the soul never dies.” A perfect picture to illustrate those scriptures from 2 Corinthians. My Nana lived to 103. Once she passed her centennial birthday, anytime you asked how she was. She would say with a smile, “I’m ready to go home.” Near the end she began to have vivid dreams of her childhood- particularly playing in the hayloft with her brother.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen, Sister Super-C. I like your take on this. Be bold. Be Strong. We’ve known the truth all along.🤗

    Liked by 1 person

  9. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen, brother. The Apostle Paul was right, what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Of course, God put it on his heart to say this. 🤗 Blessings to you and yours, as well! 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Bridget Avatar

    So thankful for Jesus and the promise of eternity in Heaven. And He brings so much joy and peace into our lives. What an incredible gift Jesus is. 🙌. … And we won’t turn green 😂💚

    Liked by 1 person

  11. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Way to go! I can just picture your walking out your Christian life taking it “as a challenge,” in a good way. Stand firm mighty warrior! Keep saying “oh yeah?” to evil!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Alan Kearns Avatar

    My kids often try to wind me up about my age (especially how close 60 is!) and how little hair I have, and I disappoint them with a smile saying “och it’s no sair!” Life is like that; our bodies age and slow down, but we are looking forward to a new Heavenly body in our new Heavenly home someday. That is a good reason to be of good cheer in our Lord.
    God bless you and Nancy today brother 🙏 🇺🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    How lovely to have a teetertotter at a nursing home. I’m sure it brings back happy memories for the residents … And I’m also sure the residents enjoy your singing. What a blessing you and your wife are.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I had the same thought, Betty—there are many possible analogies here. Thank you for sharing a couple of yours! I hope you and Dan have a good Sunday, too.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Betty Avatar

    David, my mother’s retirement community had a very similar sculpture – if not the same – of the children on the seesaw. I like your analogy, but I think there are many more here. Perhaps the bushes will come to life with the Spring? Perhaps the dead tree is the cross – in the center of all the new life? Whatever the analogy of this tucked away little spot, thank you for the spiritual reflection. Have a good Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar

    Man, I love that teeter-totter! It looks really intriguing. A news story about an actresses mansion burning down reminded me of what you kindly remind us of in your post—the importance of trusting in eternal things versus earthly ones—great reminder, David. Blessings to you—I’m glad you didn’t try to shimmy up that downspout.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, BG. God Bless!

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  18. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Me too, Priscilla. Me too!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. BG Avatar

    Styling here bro! Great read!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Priscilla Bettis Avatar

    Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, David. Yes, I trust Jesus to take my soul to heaven.❤

    Liked by 1 person

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