Oh.....coming back from the beach........The last day on the beach I had the opportunity to stand about 50 or 60 feet or so out in the water...all by myself, nobody around me and nothing, I mean NOTHING, but water ahead of me. I prayed out loud to God and thanked him for such a wonderful vacation. I thanked him for his beautiful creation and I also prayed that he would watch over all of us on our trip home the next morning. Me and God......just the two of us.......it was beautiful. Leaving the beach and coming home from vacation is usually a cause for a great deal of sadness for me. I'm always in need of a break from work, bills, responsibilities in general so when it's over so fast and all too soon....well I'm bummed.
But this year was different. I was excited to come home. NOT to the bills, NOT to work and NOT for the responsibilities.....but for Riverwood and community and the friends that I missed SO much. Missing just two Sundays (but two in a row), I felt so detached. When we got home one of the first things I did was look at the mail and then pick out what I would wear to church. In the mail I found FOUR letters from my "sisters". Had I been missed? I can't tell you how touched I was and how blessed I felt. Now I was even MORE excited!!
I jumped out of bed this morning just like I did a week ago Friday to leave for vacation! I could not wait to catch up with my friends, to worship God and to hear the message. Seriously, I even left the house 10 minutes earlier than usual! This is one place in my life that I can talk up, build up and be excited about and NEVER be disappointed. And surely I wasn't today.....In just two Sundays I had missed FOUR NEW sisters joining Women to Women!! How awesome is that?! I got to catch up with the regulars, I got to hug someone I've been missing VERY much and rejoice that she is recovering nicely and that the smile has returned to her face. Love you girl! I got to listen to another wonderful lesson, sing beautiful music and listen to Brian "bring it" like only he can! After service I mingled with warm, familiar faces and when it was time to leave.......I was disappointed!! I walked out into the sunshine and it felt so good but I really wanted to turn around and RUN back inside.
I'm so thankful for hugs, kisses and kind words. I'm so thankful for wonderful, intelligent, thoughtful, loving teachers that can get us to really think about things....make us comfortable enough to express our fears, our vulnerabilities, our hopes, our dreams.......our every thought, our prayers......
Oh how I love community. I need only be away for a short time to know right where I belong, right where God wants me to be, right where God knows I NEED to be, right where God has a purpose for me. God knows I can not do this life alone. As this scripture so eloquently says:
TWO people can ACCOMPLISH more than TWICE as much as one,
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. And on a cold
night two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other.
A person standing alone can be attached and defeated but two can
stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better for a triple-
braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Returning.......returning from vacation.....returning TO my family........
HOPE YOU HAD A GOD DAY!
XOXO
Rest in his arms....
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3 comments:
we are on our way to vacation tomorrow (today is Tuesday). We'll be gone till Saturday, so it's not a long one. But I miss you guys all the time because we're not meeting right now on Tuesdays. Or are we? Has Bible study on tuesday night started yet?
I've missed being able to come on Sunday morning to women to women because I agreed to teach sunday school. I always turn them down when they ask, but it seemed like it was time to say yes. Even though I have SO much to learn.
Lisa,
Have a great time! Doesn't matter the length of vacation just that you are able to get away from all the stress of everyday life and reconnect with your hubby and kids and just relax. Tuesday night summer study starts July 6th. I hope you can make it. I miss seeing you and being together on Tuesdays.
For a long time I just assumed that my calling, my "gift" was working with children since that is what I do for a living. I always felt so guilty when they were asking for teachers....I always thought "this is what I do! I should say YES".....but I've really thought and prayed a lot about it and I realize that working with children is something I do well but it is not the gift that God has given me. I feel so more relaxed now and no longer guilty about not working in that capacity of the church. If it seems right for you that's great.....but if it doesn't quite seem to "jive" certainly don't feel guilty saying no. You'll know by how you feel each Sunday when you go to the classroom. If it feels like an extension of your work week than it probably is not a good thing. But if you feel really lifted up each Sunday and anxious to get there and work with the children than saying yes was/is the right thing. It took a long time for God to answer me but I was patient.....You are SO NOT alone on the need to learn. Just listening to Sarah and hearing her excitement every time she learns something new makes me realize how much I still need to learn. If, as well read as she is, she is still learning...well that says a lot. LOL But the learning is SO useful and SO enjoyable and carries SO many blessings.....I'm glad that the learning will never end! Enjoy your time away. I will pray that you are renewed, refreshed and relaxed upon your return! Love you. Dianna
Hi Dianna,
Yes, the past two times I've taught, it feels just like work. The first week I taught, I felt excited as I came away and wanted to teach the kids while they were young about the Lord so that when they got older they would know what to do. But it is very difficult as i have a class of all boys it seems and they do ACT up. It feels like school to me. I almost walked out this past Sunday, that's how frustrated I was!
Thanks for telling me about Bible study- I look forward to coming. i miss the group time on Tuesday nights.
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