The Umbrella

Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
April 29, 2009

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.
-Psalm 91:1-2

The word “umbrella” comes from the Greek word “umbra” which means shade. The umbrella is over 4,000 years old. Ancient cultures used it for protection against the elements. It is said that the first umbrellas were used to provide shade from the hot sun. Then, the Chinese waterproofed their umbrellas with wax for use in the rain. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. The unseasonably hot weather this week was cause to put up the umbrella and leave it up! Sitting in a shady spot under an umbrella provides a safe haven out of the hot sun. The hot weather calls many people out to the beach and I enjoy seeing families huddled together in the shade of an umbrella just talking and laughing. The umbrella is certainly our friend with all the protection it provides.

Spiritually, God is our umbrella. He protects us and helps us to weather the storms. Not a day goes by that I don’t ask for God’s protection for myself and my loved ones. I know that there are so many “near misses” in my day that it is God that saves me from cutting my finger at the cutting board, or prevents me from switching lanes while driving because there is a car in my blind spot. I know that He is there with His angels watching over all of us. It occurred to me that if we don’t pray for safekeeping for our family, especially our children, then who is? That is a sobering thought to realize that our family could be operating without His supernatural covering because we failed to pray. It is important to make it a part of our daily prayer life to seek the shade of His protection. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11.