Footprints

Having just returned from the beach, I'm feeling rested for the first time in a very long time.  In the early years, beach visits were enjoyable to be sure, but so exhausting with all the gear, sand, diapers and little girls in tow that I almost needed a vacation after the vacation.  Thankfully, today the girls can carry their own gear (a towel and unfortunately too little sunscreen).  There is even opportunity to sit on the beach by myself for long periods of time as they come and go at their leisure.  Kyle prefers the porch to a sand covered surface, so his company comes in spurts.  Rain or shine (especially a sunset!) you could find me under an umbrella for most of the day..... resting, reflecting, reading and praying.   I am reminded of God's overwhelming and unending faithfulness while watching and listening to the ocean tide.  I can literally taste, see, smell and hear that the Lord is good, while taking in the vastness of the water and listening to the unending, repetitive sound of the waves.  His faithful footprints are so clear in my life, and for some reason, I am most keenly aware of this when I sit by the ocean.  Having lived in Florida for some time, significant and hard moments were often processed at the water's edge.  Now I return and remember His greatness and goodness and I'm confident of His tender care in my life.  In the normal routines of life, so often I forget.

After dozens and dozens of beach visits, too many to count, this time I was struck by the footprints in the sand.  Obviously, I was a little distracted playing with the girls during the little years, but I've had enough return visits to have noticed these impressions.  This year, we stayed just a short walk down the beach, going east or west, from two families who have profoundly impacted my life. (They've never met.)  As I spent time with each of these dear friends, it felt like sacred time.  God brought us together for a season-- and they each left significant footprints on me.  I can honestly say, the impression they made is an eternal one.

As I spent lots of time thinking and praying this week, I considered one of the hardest things about being a pastor's wife during this season of life.  The revolving door nature to ministry really gets to me. While we tend to be on the receiving end of families moving to new cities/churches, we've also been the ones who have left dear congregations.  Either way, it's just hard.  People come into a church body and they leave footprints in the life of its members.  As a children's church and Sunday school teacher, I've invested in families who have made a lasting impression on me.  When they leave, sometimes the footprints feel painful with gossip or slander (a stomping of sorts) and other times I watch them go with heartfelt tears and earnest prayers for where the Lord is taking them.  Whether it's church life or a school/neighborhood community, we leave footprints in the lives of those we meet.  Do we want to leave a bitter taste/impression, or do we want to leave an impression for lasting and eternal good?  As I noticed the sand this week, the footprints were often traveling in one direction with a destination or goal in view and others were scattered and messy like so much of life.  The most striking part was the constant, enormous tide washing over them all.  It made me think of God's work in the lives of His people.  Whether we are sure footed and confident in our journey of faith or not, His care and mercy never ends.  It is overwhelming and constant.  If you are my friend or family member, one of those who leaves a lasting impression on me, it is my prayer that you also taste and see that the Lord is good!