A FORGOTTEN REALITY

Published April 30, 2008

In today’s world of immediate gratification, TV, Ipods, etc. we individually and collectively have forgotten a very important truth. That truth is that of -The Pleasure of Your Company. Fortunately, it is a truth that once you understand it you can take immediate advantage of it because it has been there all along.
When I think of The Pleasure of Your Company I think about the relationship that a dog, a beloved pet, has with its owner. From the dog’s point of view it doesn’t need continual input from his master. He likes to be near his master. By just being in the room with the master is pleasing to the dog. It is, also, pleasing to the master. For example: I stay up later than the rest of my family because I am working. Our dog has a choice of either going to his bed in the our bedroom where my wife is or to stay with me. Usually, he stays with me. He doesn’t want to be pet and he usually sleeps but I know he is there and it is a comforting feeling. It is a lonelier room when the dog is gone.
On a larger scale, I am pleased when all of my family is home. They don’t have to be talking to me or hanging with me but just having them in the house is comforting. This isn’t to say that we don’t talk because we do. The point is that we don’t need direct input from someone to benefit from their presence. When my wife is working in the other room it pleases me just knowing that she is there.
Dating should be the same. There shouldn’t be pressure to act a certain way or do a certain thing or keep up a conversation the whole time that a couple is together. Just being with someone and enjoying the pleasure of their company should be enough. This is one area in young people’s lives, that if they were taught this, would relieve a lot of stress and cut down on the mistakes and wrong choices that are made. Remember the old movies or movies about the 1940’ and 50’s. A young man and young woman on the front porch swing, swinging and staring at the stars. They weren’t lost for words they were enjoying that feeling of knowing that the other was there with them.
Last but not least is our relationship with God. Do you know that God is there always and that He never leaves you, that He never forsakes you and that The God and Father of Jesus Christ is the God of all comfort?
Here are some verses to help you on your journey to enjoying the pleasure of His presence.
Hebrews 13: 5 Let your conversation (behavior) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Psalm 17: 7 Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Psalm 23: 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU ART WITH ME; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 36: 5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Psalm 63: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Deuteronomy 31: 6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
I Samuel 12: 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
II Corinthians 1: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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