Gathered
around a long rectangular table we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and celebrated another
year. I held my breath as she blew out all five candles on top of the
cake with bright blue frosting her Momma had made. In that blink of a moment, I
stole a glance around the table at long ago acquaintances that are now my
people. God picked this family to place me in twelve years ago and with a
thankful heart, I exhaled.
God
used my precious niece to convince me back in 2009 that everything would be ok,
that I would be ok. After the second loss that ripped my heart out, I wondered
how on earth I would be able to hold it together less than two weeks later when
I met this tiny baby and held her in my arms that were aching.
I’m
pretty sure I felt the air being sucked in around me as my sister-in-law and
mother-in-law watched and waited. When you watch someone's heart break, a tiny
piece of yours breaks right along together. That’s how family is- blood
or not.
As
I held Kiley Jean in my arms that day on the back porch, slowly rocking back
and forth in the wooden rocking chair, I felt God whisper to my soul, “It’s
going to be ok … and so are you.”
Peace
flooded my heart then just as it did today when I remembered all the ways God
has shown His faithfulness right here around the table in the past five years.
I am reminded of how He’s walked with us through the joy of new life, the sting
of death, the adventures of starting something new, and memories we will
forever cherish. And that’s only a handful of years! Though every person
could share their own long list, I will share mine because that’s really all I
have to give.
In
five years, Jesus has mended a heart I thought was beyond repair.
He
has set me free from chains I was completely unaware were wrapped around me.
He
has given me a passion to share His Word with other hurting hearts.
He
has revived this gift of communicating love through words.
He
has given me a son… and a daughter… at the same time.
And
He has done the impossible with this baby on the way and shattered the doubt
that’s been inside me for way too long.
He
has given me eyes to see me… the way He sees me.
He
has written a beautiful segment of my story… the one He continues to write
daily.
He
has captured my heart- my whole heart- and turned my life upside down in such a
refreshing way.
Sweet
Kiley has no idea that every year we celebrate her life, I secretly remember
how God brought me from that dark season of pain and loss to one of light and
joy. One day I’ll tell her that God chose her to speak hope and love into
such a broken spirit… that He used a tiny baby with strawberry blond hair and
the most precious fingers and toes.
Really,
this shouldn’t surprise me because isn’t that what God used all those years
ago? Didn’t He choose a tiny baby to enter the darkest night and bring peace
and hope for each and every one of us?
This
baby was God’s perfect plan for rescuing us from ourselves. Not a mighty king,
not a strong giant, not a noble or well-known authority… just a baby.
Tiny, frail, and weak. He used this baby- Jesus- to change my
life.
It’s
why we celebrate His birth at Christmas, His ultimate sacrifice of death and
God’s perfect redemption plan through His resurrection at Easter. But there are countless other occasions to
celebrate the work God has done in our lives.
There are dates that are personal to me and dates that are personal to
you.
There
are dates known only by Jesus.
There
are numbers on the calendar that creep up on me. Hard days. Every one of us has them. But for every
painful memory in my life, I can see God’s hand of restoration weaving all of
it together with grace and love and healing and this is what I want to remember. I want to celebrate this so I don’t ever
forget what He’s done and what He is doing today. Lately, I’ve seen it pop up
over and over again in scripture.
Remember.
Do
not forget.
Celebrate.
Do
not be silent.
Celebrate
what God has done in your life today.
Don’t wait until tomorrow. Do it
now. Be loud and joyful and tell somebody or tell it right here. Don’t keep it a
secret. Share what God has done in your
life, what He’s doing today.
I’m
convinced that God is repetitive about this because He knows something we don’t.
He knows that when we look for His hand of mercy and see how it hovers
with care over our lives, we are instantly reminded that He is good whether life is good
or not.
Sing
to the Lord
a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Psalm 96:1-3
