"You Have Salt Water In Your Blood, Jill"

I had gone to school with the same people since kindergarten. I was ready to get away and go to a city! Charlotte was it and it was a big city to me! And it was four hours away! When I would talk about going to Charlotte Dad would say, "Jill, you have salt water in your blood. You are going to want to come back!" My response, "No, I'm NOT!" While I broke their hearts going four hours away they were proud of my independence. Long distance calling was expensive so we wrote letters back and forth and called once a week to "check in."

Today is the seventh anniversary of Dad's death and as I looked at pictures I noticed most of them we are in bathing suits, in water, on water, in a boat, etc. Then I started thinking about how he always told me, "you have salt water in your blood, Jill." Yesterday was a tough day and I was weepy. I think it was because I have had a really tough week and I needed to see Dad's smile and be around his positive influence. So it was time for me to write.

Just as Dad's mother gave him the love of salt water, he passed that love down to me and I have passed down to my girls. This is also where I got a strong faith. It was passed down for generations. My paternal grandmother had amazing faith as did my dad.

Matthew 5: 13, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

We need salt. A salt intake regulates our water content in our body. Just as Jesus wants us to bring balance and hope to our world. If we lose our passion for Christ then we are like a piece of rock with no flavor. Satan knows that we can lose our saltiness and he will promote that! We have to stay in the Word and work on our relationship with God so we will not lose our flavoring!

Leviticus 2: 13, "Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings." Out of obedience to God, every sacrifice was seasoned with salt. It was a symbol of the covenant that God made with his people.

Of course there was no refrigeration and no additives to preserve food so salt had to be used to preserve perishable food in biblical times. It was kept in the Temple near the altar of sacrifice. Salt was priceless. Often Roman soldiers were paid with salt. It could be used or traded. It was valued.

This covenant of salt, from God, symbolized a holy and lasting relationship between God and his people. It was eternal. This covenant gives new meaning to "you are the salt of the earth." Just as the qualities of salt turned perishable food into an imperishable commodity, Jesus turns perishable people into an imperishable people. For all eternity.

I went away for years physically and thought I would never get back to Wilmington! I went away for years spiritually but I came back wanting to be flavorful. I needed salt in my life and I still need salt in my life! I still need to be in the salt water or on the salt water! And though I miss my Dad so much I am most grateful for him being salt of the earth so he could teach me to live a flavorful life. This gives new meaning to him sometimes being called Ol' Salty! My dad knew I would be back because I had salt in my blood and my Father knew I would be back because I wanted salt in my life!

Trials will show if we are going to be flavorful or if we are lacking. The table is set with salt and pepper. It is yours for the taking. Will you choose to be flavorful?

Dad in the salt water enjoying God's creations!