MY HAPPY PLACE
A couple of days ago, it was snowing. The last four Wednesdays in a row it has snowed. Looking out the window, I can look at the purity and beauty of those flakes. I love to watch it come down, from the safety of my front room, and I thank God for the white, seemingly purifying flakes falling to the ground. There is a tree out in front of the animal hospital I work at, that was so pretty. It actually looked like it had spring blossoms, of white clumps on the top of all the branches. I told one customer if you try to not look at all that white stuff on the ground and surrounding trees, it looked like a promise of spring ahead. He looked at me like I was crazy, but smiled.
When the roads are bad, I am so blessed to have my two boys close by that they can (if works out with their work schedules) take me to work and pick me up after work. My work actually takes care of me too when the snow flies. There has been one Wednesday that my office manager called and said to stay home because the roads were too bad. We have gotten a lot of ice first and then snow on top of that. When looking out a window safe and sound inside, the snow is just beautiful! But when out on the roads trying to get around, or trying to walk, it is so dangerous! The older I get, the more cautious I am about trying to walk on the ice and snow.
If someone asked me where my happy place is, I always say on the beach watching the waves coming in and going out. (When I go visit my grandkids in Virginia, my daughter always makes it a point to go to the beach one day. So that makes two happy places at once: watching the ocean and being with my grandbabies.) There is just something about hearing that ocean water coming in and out with the tide. It somehow makes me feel at peace and helps me remember the magnitude of our God!
But on the other side, the ocean can be so dangerous. It has been known to engulf a ship and capsize it, which causes loss of life and livelihood. When a hurricane happens, it can cause so much devastation to people’s homes and lives within its path. Under the surface, there can be dangers lurking there as well. There have been several instances of people being attacked by sharks or other creatures lurking under that seemingly calm water.
These two places make me think that our lives are just like that ocean and snow. We can have so many beautifully happy times in this life here on this earth. As I mentioned, one of those is when I am blessed to go see my grandbabies in Virginia. Hearing their voices and hugging them close, brings me to one of my happy places that I just want to treasure and remember. I try to take a lot of pictures when I am with them and send them a little photo album so they can look at them and remember our happy times together.
When I am writing for this blog or a vendor at a show selling and talking to someone at an event, about my books that I have published, I am at my happy place as well. I feel like my experiences, both good and bad, have and will help others who might be going through a trial in their life. I have seen and heard comments that give me encouragement and courage to share even the darkest times of my life, that can help someone put one foot in front of the other.
On the other hand, this life can throw us curve balls. Things happen that we don’t see coming. Death of a loved one or friend bring us back to reality that life can end without warning. James 4:13-15 reads “Come now, you who say, ‘today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit;’ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘if the Lord wills, we shall do this or that.” I remember one time, my daughter, her oldest (who was a few years old then), and I were traveling. We went by a mine and there was white smoke coming out of a pipe, which went up in the air and then it just vaporized. My grandson said, “look, nana, they are making clouds!” I thought, just like a nana would, boy he is really smart to see and think that! That smoke went quickly up into the air and then vanished. Just like our lives. We are here on earth for such a short amount of time. Then, sometimes without warning, we are gone. Our lives here on earth, vanish.
Maybe, our life does not turn out the way that we had envisioned. My husband and I were going along our lives and then all of a sudden, he became physically sick. He sank into a deep depression for two years. There were many dark times during those years. His illness made him change from the strong Christian leader of my home, to someone who felt like he had caused all of the trials we faced. My faith was tested. But then I remembered the hope that I could hold on to that we have in Jesus. I know I did many things that were not right. I know that I felt bitterness within my heart towards my husband. I had to work with God’s help to rid my heart of that. Now I can look back and see God was at work in my life. He was by my side helping me take one step at a time.
Romans 8:18 & 22-25 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that but we also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly awaiting the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does someone hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
Even though this life can be hard, we must hold onto the hope, that only God can give us, that we have an eternal home with Him. Hebrews 6:19 tells us about this hope that God has promised us. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus…” Our hope, as believers, is secure in Christ, just like an anchor is to a ship. This anchor is not dropped into the sand or this world which would not be strong, but rather the anchor is on solid rock; which is the knowledge that our Savior came to earth, died and was raised and ascended to heaven. We must serve Him, even though we make mistakes, remembering that hope. That should be our happy place even when life sends us curve balls. Somehow when life is hard, I feel closer to God and remember how powerful He is. Just like those powerful waves and the danger of the ice and snow, our hope is that the waves will become calm and that the sunshine will come out once again. This gives us hope, each and every day, to make it through.
Where is your happy place here on this earth? Is your happy place with God? Is it anchored securely in God’s promises of eternal life one day? This hope has gotten me through some really bad “snowstorms” and “treacherous waves” in my life! Creation has so much beauty and peace for us to enjoy. Find a happy place for you to enjoy the beauty that God has created for us. But more importantly find the happy place that only God can give us! Hope of eternal life when our time on this earth is over.
Till next time! Keela
(The picture at the beginning of this blog, is the last time I was able to go visit my grandbabies! What a happy place!)