So. Memorial Day….
As I opened Facebook, each time I seen a post of the folded flag.
I seen a post about a casket and the flag carrying it.
I seen a post about the flag being the one thing that made it home.
I seen a beautiful daughter that never got to know her daddy in the flesh take pictures with the flag that brought him home.
I seen a background of boots that stand on for the soldier that never made it home.
I seen friends and family honoring their Soldiers in so many beautiful ways.
And each time I opened Facebook to share my heart, I cried.
The flag just took my breath away…
But it wasn’t the flag.
It was everything it represents.
And…. Each post reminded me of a picture I cherish with my whole heart.
A
Picture that I looked at and liquids love poured over each time I looked at it. Trying to find the words to share it.
Somehow… no words were good enough.
(About like me picking out flowers these days)
But nothing.
Only tears.
But here’s the thing…
I’m not sure they were sad tears.
More of overwhelm never ending reckless Love over flowing….
Each time I look at this photo, I’m reminded how I felt in that very moment….
Safe…
Yes. Safe.
As He looked me in the eyes He spoke Words to me that my pawpaw would say.
And next thing I know I felt Derek looking at me telling me everything was going to be okay…
And in that moment.
I chose to believe him.
“Everything is going to be okay.”
A promise that I along with my family will be taken care of.
A promise from Heaven on this side of Heaven.
Sustaining….
Safe….
As I continued to hold on to this picture throughout the weekend and open Facebook to see the posting of honor and remembrance, my heart began to notice the embrace….
Gripped ever so gently..
Held ever so elegantly..
Placed so strategically, fitting perfectly into my hands.
Gazed upon like Heaven knew this moment was meant for us. Destiny.
Like it was planned all along for something more than we can understand or even begin to comprehend.
Something entrusted to us to serve in, feel safe in, know we are One in, find purpose in, honor, protect, provide for, respect, carry out, trust, and share…..
A lot like our Love.
Embraced…..
In all the ways….
Hard… yet safe….
Hard… yet trusted….
Hard… yet worth it….
Hard… yet sustaining beyond sight….
Wow…. The power of a picture and a pair of eyes and a heart seeking God…
Sometimes I have no idea what I need and I don’t even know how to ask, but yet, through tears, God hears and meets me there.
Somedays I know the need so loudly and I softly whisper it though a tight squeeze over my heart feeling it beat so I can still know I’m okay here. So I can still feel him…..
He meets me there too.
I share these things to show you no matter how hard…. Yet God… meets you right there.
Y’all know I love pictures and for a complete stranger to capture a moment of embrace like I’m sandwiched between God and My Husband, is, well….
Not of this world.
Extraordinary comes to mind and that’s Just God.
I know this world gets a lot of our attention and I know our over thinking can overthink and I know our lack can, well just make us feel wanting, and I know through all the “dynamic” changes, we can stay steadfast in our Faith….
God is going to show up. Right on time.
He’s going to provide even when your heart is broken into a million pieces and you don’t even recognize yourself. He still recognizes you. He still calls you His.
Won’t you reach out and embrace Him today and let His Wrap Around Presence embrace you back.
His arms are wide open….
Trust Him…..
What does trust look like to you?
Do that with God.
What does a safe place look like to you?
Do that with God…
I love you sweet friend…
And thank you for honoring my husband and all those gone before him and with him in service to our amazing country…
We are still Gods..
and we are still Good.
God bless America.
Land of the free, because of the brave.
And please remember….
Greater is He that is within thee, than He that is within the world…
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
1 John 4:4 NLT
