I received the most exquisite Christmas surprise ever! My son Jason and his girlfriend Nathalie walked through the door of my father’s home on Christmas night- all the way from Italy! For two weeks, we enjoyed laughing, telling stories, visiting with family and touring all over Los Angeles. This morning, they arrived home safely, exhausted but filled with good memories. Today, I want to share the hug, which I’ll treasure forever.
I had been preparing, or was it bracing(?) myself, for our final good byes with Jason and Nathalie. I kept sensing that the joy of the Lord would be my strength – if I would choose to focus on Him and his ways.
Today as I was held in Jason’s arms, the love of the Lord in our midst was so strong and sweet, that I simply could do nothing more than draw from the deep well of love between us as mother and son. I drank in the sweetness of the tender moment of our embrace, knowing it would have to keep me filled for a while. I am praising the Lord with a song in my heart for the blessing of these past two weeks with my son and Nathalie.
Of course the tears came, but not until after we pulled away, I was grateful for that. But the amazing thing is, I am not wallowing in sadness. I continue to be filled with joy. When I read this verse – preprinted on the bottom page of my journal, I knew it was God’s Word for me today: 1-09-09:
“You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.” Acts 2:28
When I choose to gaze upon His face, His ways, and His heart….I can feel His Presence in the midst of all things. Focusing on Him instead of sadness, praising Him for the blessing instead of regretting the time apart, has brought so much joy to my heart today that I just wanted to shout a PRAISE TO HIM together with my friends!
