We were at the beach on the pacific coast. The winds blew
hard enough to need my ears covered, but light enough to be out in a long
sleeve tee and rolled up jeans. No heavy jackets were needed that day. Little girl
was running in and out of the water with no care for whether or not she was soaked
or sandy. Her squeals filled the air as she hopped from tide pool to tide pool
and then ran into the shallow waves that lapped the glittering sand. The sun
was not close to setting and yet there was this glorious feeling of the
softness that the evening rays give as they poke between the clouds and give
them golden linings. The scene in front of me was a rainbow of blues. Every
shade imaginable seemed to be represented in the sky and the water. The horizon
was lined with the waves that crashed the furthest away and the shore shone
with the shallow waters that rolled over the sand. The sand seemed to sparkle.
The water was cool. I wanted to capture this moment, but a picture hardly did
it justice. A video didn’t cut it either. Sure they captured the view of the
memory and I would treasure those moments etched on film. But how could I
capture the feeling deep down in my soul?
I prayed, thanking God for this
marvelous creation. I kept saying over and over, “Let me drink this all in and
not forget how this very moment makes me feel.” I smiled and tilted my head
back in the wind. “Don’t ever let me be too hurried so that I miss the glory of your
creation. I want to see your name written on all of it. Don’t let me miss the fullness
of who you are and what you’ve made.”
And it was as if he spoke to my heart
saying, “Look down.” I opened my eyes. Running past me was my little girl. Her
braids full of salt and sand. Shorts and sleeves were soaked with the sea.
Without a care in the world she hollered, “Yippie-kai-yay!” Flashing me her sweet
smile that makes me melt, she giggled and ran back and forth in front of me
letting the sand squish between her toes and kicking the water high up in the
air.
“A sample of my glory is in front of you every day. She is my creation.
She is my child. My name is written on her heart and in her life. When you
savor the wonder of your daughter you are enjoying my creation.”
I shifted my
focus.
It was now completely on her. The shades of blue were no longer as
captivating. Instead they provided the perfect backdrop, framing her little
face. Highlighting the two freckles on her cheek. Those little hands waved in
the air. How could they be so big already and yet still so little? The sun now
made the little curls that peeked out from under the sides of her hat shine
like gold. My prayer intensified. Tears threatened to fill my eyes.
“God, don’t
let me miss the wonder of you reflected in her life. You made something good
when you made her.”
My sweet friends, savor the wonder of your family. They’re
not perfect. Mine isn’t. No one’s is. That’s ok. We all make mistakes, get
frustrated and have less than ideal days. But that doesn’t mean that the part
of God’s creation that has been given to you – your family – is any less
beautiful and valuable. Strive to see the good and the mysterious hand of God in them. Especially
on a frustrating day. It will help refocus your heart and your thoughts.
Praise
the Lord for your family.
Give Him the glory for them.
It’s been weeks since we’ve been on the shore… and I still find
myself transporting back to that moment in my thoughts...
Smiling...
Remembering
the day that I drank in the glory of God’s creation.
And how His little
creation, my daughter, is a reflection of Him.
What memories refocus your heart
on the blessing that your
family is?
When was the last time that you decided to just
sit and soak up the beauty of your family?
I would love to hear your thoughts about the wonder of God
that you see in your family in the comments below!
All pictures are exclusive content of this blog unless otherwise noted.
Thanks to my mother for capturing this moment on film.
