Good morning…
I received many encouraging emails hoping for a meaningful, memorable meal after yesterday’s post, ‘Our 6:00 am birthday party.’ Truthfully, our family’s early morning celebration was a complete dud. Annoyed, sleeping siblings hugged a halfhearted “Happy birthday,” before climbing back into bed for an extra hour of sleep. No pancakes were eaten. Most of the eggs were thrown out. The birthday candles were extinguished, but cake and ice cream went untouched. Miraculously, instead of disgruntled disappointment, I felt pure, peaceful joy since I had already opened God’s early birthday gift, the gift of a changed heart.
Remember the scene? Stirred awake by God at 3:30 am, I was feeling conflicted about my daughter missing her 20th birthday at home with our family. We felt forced to drive her as a transfer student to her new college two days early to avoid Atlanta’s predicted ice and snow. Leave her at a strange place where she knows no one the day before her birthday? Conflicted I woke. Worried about loneliness. Sad for her sadness. I entered my prayer time in angst for my daughter.
As I journaled my emotions, emptying me, opening to God, I was filled with the idea of a “6:00 am birthday party.” To celebrate as a family before driving her and the U-Haul across the highway to her new school, God said, “Make eggs. Flip pancakes. Serve birthday cake for breakfast.” Rising from my prayer time, I had unwrapped God’s gift. My hurting momma’s heart turned happy, hopeful, and I hopped into action, chopping, stirring, and setting up for the feast.
Because God had changed me, as my daughter woke on the day before her 20th birthday, I was busy in the kitchen with a joyful, peaceful heart. Driving to her new adventure, she shared her wounding worries, and my faithful voice helped to calm her anxious heart. Her greatest fears were listened to by ears of confident trust in God’s good, great, grace-filled plan. When she wondered aloud, “How will I make new friends? I don’t even know myself well enough to be myself with new people,” I was able to lovingly remind, “You know the difference between your true, at home self and your false, defended self, who fearfully hides in her image conscious shell.” The early birthday gift of encouragement unwrapped itself more. “Honey, God is going with you to your new school, so you are never alone, you are always protected, and you are completely loved, fully ‘enough’ at all times.”
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39, NLT).
So, I wake this morning on my daughter’s 20th birthday. She is there and I am here. The physical roads between us are icy and treacherous, but the spiritual road is clear and calm, paved by the inseparable love of God revealed in Jesus.
…Sue…
