This is pitiful, I know! I know! How in the world can anyone allow their Bible to get so torn up?

You would probably ask, “Why don’t you have it rebound?” Good idea… I did! 3 times I had it professionally bound!

And it keeps falling apart. So, I gave up on that.

I have glued it. I have taped it. I have taped it again. I have taped it with different types of tape. I have taped it time and time again. But I continue to use it, and it continues to fall apart. I dare not take the Bible cover off, or it would definitely come apart in a million pieces.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many times poor ol’ “James” has fallen out and landed on the floor. For some reason, he keeps separating himself from the rest of the writers of the New Testament. However, when actually doing a study on the book of James, it is convenient since I don’t have to lug around the rest of the Bible. (Do you know how heavy the Word of God can be?)

And then there’s “Genesis“. Well… “Genesis” is a complete mess! I’m not even sure the Creation Week is still in the right order. And who can know for sure if Abraham or Noah came first? I mean, honestly! What to do with “Genesis”? It is literally broken into so many parts.

I have at least twenty other Bibles that are beautiful and all intact. Bibles of every translation and size. Bible with leather covers, imitation leather covers, paperback, and even hardcovers. Some with lots of pretty pictures, maps, and charts (Which I do LOVE! Especially Timelines! My weakness!) And they are all great! And I use them, and I love them all too.

But this is my favorite. This one is special.

We have a strong bond! (Even if my Bible doesn’t.) We’ve been together for over 20 years.  We have attended innumerable church services together during those twenty years: Sunday School, worship services, Bible studies, small groups, home groups, trainings, marriage retreats, and multiple conferences. We have traveled to Israel together. We have been on the beach together. We have been on cruises together.

We have gone through tough times together. We have spent hours questioning together. We have prayed together. We have cried rivers of tears together. We have spent hours arm in arm together.

We have spent hours sitting together in sweet, quiet times. We have had nights of wrestling together. We have studied relentlessly together.  We have exclaimed “aha moments” together. We have been shown amazement together. We have laughed out loud together. We have wondered about the future together. We have had times of desperate prayers together. We have searched for answers together.

I feel an attachment. We know each other. We are familiar with one another. This Bible is my close friend.

I know where to find things in this Bible. I know where to look for certain scripture. I can tell you where to find something, which side of the page (left or right), and if it is at the top of the page or at the bottom of the page.

I have notes, writings, and highlights all over the pages. Many have bled through the pages. Many have smeared. Many are smudged. Many have coffee stains. Many have tear stains. I have made a mess with this Bible.

But every jot and tittle is special to me. Every crooked underline represents something that touched me. Every ink blot reminds me of something that means something to me. Every note written with all kinds of different colored pens, pencils, and markers brings back to mind what God spoke to me. 

“Every torn page tells a beautiful, broken story. Every page worn thin speaks of Scripture touched, loved, and wrestled with. Every loose thread in the binding measures how deeply it has been used to bring about growth and change. The mess visible in this book is a living witness to the mess in my own life—the struggles, the questions, the years spent searching. Yet, woven within these frayed strings and broken binding, held fast between the covers of God’s Word, is the beautiful, undeniable thread of Redemption in my own life.”

Our history together goes back too far to give up on it now.

I LOVE this BIBLE! It is my friend! 

So, what can I do?

I have tried several times to “retire” it. To let it “rest”. To say, “Good-bye”. I have lovingly set it on the bookshelf. Thanked it for all the wonderful and memorable times together. Kissed it… And walked away…

But I could never stay away for too long…I always keep coming back!  

It saddens me that it no longer looks clean and pretty like it once did. It is dirty. It is worn. It is tattered. It is tired. It is overused, over-traveled, and overworked. (Kind of like me…)

BUT…can I just say… It is still AMAZING! It is still POWERFUL! It is still USEFUL! It is still ALIVE, and it is still ACTIVE! It is still God’s Word. It still speaks to my heart.

It is still MY CLOSE AND PERSONAL FRIEND! 

So, I will keep taping the pages together. (I’m sorry if that bothers anyone. It’s just don’t know what else to do.) My hands will still hold it close. I will still keep the old, dirty, worn-out cover on so that it can continue to keep it together for just a little longer. I will still cherish and love our time spent together. I will continue to love it!

I will continue to keep it… near to me, because it is dear to me.

Yes, my Bible is getting old and falling apart… but I still use it! You could say that I am getting old and falling apart, too. (And you would be right. I feel it!) And GOD… still uses me! For that, I am forever thankful!

When we are together, I am stronger. When we are together, I am more confident. When we are together, I have great faith. Together, we are a team! Together we are effective. Together we are a SWEET LOVE STORY! We are meant to be forever together!

“My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” (Song of Solomon 6:3)