"Hands Down!!"
I love to see the sea! I love to hear the sea! I love to smell the sea! I love to feel the sea upon my skin, although, it has been a few years since I've actually been in it - due to my choosing to "opt out" of walking down to it while vacationing, or anytime, essentially, because of not wanting to deal with the chronic body pain with which I contend, which is caused by back injuries, presently. Anyway, I DO love me some sea! Thankfully though, for many years of my life, I was able to enjoy, literally GOING down to "the beach," and, thoroughly soaking up, the sun, and be ACTIVELY involved in the various fun-filled activities of the beautiful oceans - given to us - for our enjoyment, by our AWESOME 'CREATOR!!' It's ironic that, I actually appreciate "the coast" (as some Believers choose to call it) more, now that I don't go down there - physically, DOING beach activities, on and in it, but rather, by observing it through an oceanfront balcony, sitting at a table, with my 'iPhone,' in hand, a "(KJV) Bible app," glass of ice water, and a cup of coffee! It is also interesting to me, how - with age, and maturity - both spiritually and physically, etc., I also appreciate the people with whom I am vacationing, much more than I did in the past - whenever vacationing was more about "ME" basically fulfilling my selfish desires. Presently, whenever I look out at the sea, I think of God's, astounding "handiwork," faithfulness, power, strength, love, and that God, and HIS voice, are on the waters, and so on...(Genesis 1:1-10+22, 49:25, Psalm 29:3)! For me, as a "girl," our "annual Summer family vacations" were all about: swimming, tanning, meeting people, checking out the guys, eating, shopping, etc., but, present tense, as a "mature Christian woman," it's about: being with family, honoring 'The Lord,' making memories, having "good, clean" fun, enjoying the ocean (watching, listening to, smelling, it, etc.), and, of course, delicious food, a little shopping, good, strong coffee, and, the such! Oh my, HOW MUCH - Jesus and time - have changed me! As a grandmother, I believe that, I get more satisfaction out of seeing my family enjoy themselves, than I once did whenever I were able to literally "DO" more myself! I love ALL of my "babies" more than I could have ever, dreamed, imagined, or that I ever thought that I would or could!! On every family vacay there usually is a highlight for me, and this year - so far, I think that it is, witnessing the singing of Chloe's (my three year old granddaughter) version of the "national anthem," sung by her - OFTEN - anytime she gets "the urge" to sing it! Ha! Whenever she stops, puts her hand on her heart, stands "at attention," and using the beautiful, "lil" voice that God gave her, sings - with sincerity - about half of the right lyrics, it absolutely "melts my heart!" As I have been writing this 'blog post,' dwelling upon, and analyzing, all of it, I realized that, if I had never had, chronic back and body pain, and other kinds of issues, which in certain senses have humbled and broken, me, then, I would probably never have learned to appreciate some of the most important "things" in life! If, I had never gotten 'saved,' been, tested and tried, by all sorts of, circumstances, situations, temptations, failures, successes, etc., in my life, I would have, no doubt, continued living a - superficial, self-centered, materialistic, selfish, etc. type of life! Retrospectively, I am able to honestly write that, IF, I had to choose between; either- my younger (selfish) life - OR - the life in which I am living today, "HANDS DOWN," I'd choose,"TODAY's LIFE," every time! However, it doesn't work that way, and, I'm glad, because, I love all of my memories - even the ones of, embarrassment, humiliation, failure, defeat, illnesses, etc., believing that, every single bit of it, has been, is being, and, shall continue, to be used by "my good Lord," to refine me! During this refining process through which I am going (like when gold is refined in the fire), with which I do not particularly like, thanks be to God's, Word and Spirit, I have confidence in the, plan and story, which HE has for my life (a very precious gift - as is each and every person's life), that HE is causing ALL of it to work for my good, because I DO LOVE HIM (but, only because HE first loved me) (Romans 8:18, 28, 1 John 4:19)! It would be SUPER COOL to be able to go back in time, and, relive one day of a vacation in my past - with family members, several who have since then passed to "the other side!" And, if it weren't for dealing with hurricanes, and, the high humidity, I could most definitely handle living on one of "America's coasts!" Actually, I could probably handle living on the west coast because of it's lower humidity. It doesn't matter though, because, most likely, I'll be an "Appalachian momma" the rest of my days, unless, 'The Good Lord' intervenes, which is perfectly fine by me!! We shall see!? At this point in my life, I only desire to do God's perfect will! For today, I choose continuing to enjoy SEEING the SEA, and all of its activities, while watching everyone else in my family - as they are enjoying everything that they're DOING - as we continue being VERY, VERY BLESSED - in being together again, for yet another, exciting, Summer, family "VACAY," and in lots of other ways - all the while - making priceless memories, in which I already cherish - RIGHT HERE AND NOW (before these current days become memories), and I shall forever, as shall my descendants - hopefully and prayerfully - if any of them don't yet...someday! The 'Atlantic Ocean's' waters look more gorgeously colorful and clear this Summer than I have ever seen them! It is "hard to believe" the positive impact that a "family vacay by the SEA has on my entire "being," past, present, and hopefully future - tense! For ALL of HIS undeserved bounteousness in which he bestows upon me and mine, I thank God! I recommend that you, dear reader, anytime you are able...SEE that you get a dose of "SEA," because it has a healing affect upon one's; spirit, soul, and body!! Until next time...
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