Good morning…
Five years ago today the spirit of a young man returned to the God who gave it and later in the week his body was returned to the ground from which we came. Our grieving community experienced with new eyes one of my favorite Bible verses: Then shall the dust [out of which God made man’s body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7, AMPC).
A few days later I met his mom for the very first time, spirit to spirit, soul to soul. For five fertile years, our God-given friendship has unfolded so tenderly, so truthful, so trustworthy. Together we have witnessed God’s promise coming vibrantly true: “The life that pleases me is a life lived in the gratitude of grace, always choosing to walk with me in what is right. This is the sacrifice I desire from you. If you do this, more of my salvation will unfold for you” (Psalm 50:23, TPT).
Month by month, we have leaned into one of my favorite quotes from Terri St. Cloud: “She could never go back and make some of the details pretty. All she could do was move forward and make the whole beautiful.”
With the undeniable power of our ever present God, we have moved forward to witness the budding of more and more fragile beauty. Fragrant. Unforgettable. Life-giving beyond measure. Heartbreaking sorrow gradually unfurls into palpable joy as we live, breathe, and grieve together. With God. Side by side. Year after year.
Quietly unfolding in our spiritual bundles, we give the LORD time, space, and deep trust. Reflecting on the past five years, I know God has made everything beautiful for its time.
God has also placed in our minds a sense of eternity; we look back on the past and ponder over the future, yet we cannot understand the doings of God. I know there is nothing better for us than to be joyful and to do good throughout our lives; to eat and drink and see the good in all of our hard work is a gift from God.
I know everything God does endures for all time. Nothing can be added to it; nothing can be taken away from it. We humans can only stand in awe of all God has done (Ecclesiastes 3:11-14, VOICE).
Together may we stand in awe as God continues to bloom beauty out of old details that will never be pretty.
…Sue…
