One Dirty Bible

The first time I visited the Community Alliance Church in New Haven, New York I was amazed when I saw their Bibles. My Gram gave me a Bible after my baptism and confirmation when I was fifteen years old. Gram told me, "Take care of this. It is special." I took such good care of this precious gift I NEVER took it out of the box. It is in as pristine condition today as the day Gram gifted it to me. I took care of it.

I was SHOCKED to say the least when I saw everyone's Bibles at this new church I was visiting. They were DIRTY! Of course they were not dirty but well used. Hmm...a new concept to me. My Bible could have been returned to the store my grandmother bought it fifteen years prior and no one would have known it had been mine. 

Have you ever said something and no one seems to forget? I tend to have this happen a lot but that is okay. Most of the time these statements bring joy and laughter for years to come. Instead of observing their dirty Bibles and keeping it to myself I piped up and said, "Oh my gosh, your Bibles are dirty." Laughter erupted.

I am happy to say my Bibles (yes it is plural) are dirty. I have similar finger prints, coffee and tea stains, ripped pages, highlighting, underlining, and tear stains as the wonderful people who accepted my statement with humor and grace.

What does your Bible look like? Have you "taken care of it" by storing it on the shelf or is it dirty with the wear and tear of daily use? Do you have a funny, special, or ridiculous Bible story you wo