The Psalm My Father Read to Me.

As a small girl growing up in intercity Philadelphia, I learned the meaning of fear quite early on, for evil was all about me. There were drugs, bars on every corner, gangs, and crime constantly. Yet, in the midst of all this, I was especially afraid of fire. Living in a row-home meant, if one house burned the whole block usually became engulfed in flames as well.

Knowing my fears, my father would read this psalm to me at night before tucking me in bed.

Psalm 121 King James Version (KJV)

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

This psalm has carried me and comforted me for years.

This Father’s Day, I’m thankful for a loving dad who read the scriptures to me, prayed with me, and lead our family in family worship daily.

He is an amazingly loyal and faithful father to me, much like my heavenly Father who never fails in caring for me through storms that rage and threaten.

I’m so thankful for this precious Dad of mine. I love you Papa!