What is Left on the Shore

It is days like today that makes the decision to leave almost impossible.  A piece of my heart and soul will be left behind and it sucks!  No one wants to leave a good thing, no one wants to be replaced, and no one wants to be the “good ole days.”  So, today as my family and dear friends join up for an adventurous day in God’s creation, I moved through the day like I had been kicked in the balls!  Not that it wasn’t one of the best days we have had in a long time, not that the kids behaved beyond any stretch of our wildest imagination, but to think of the times in the future to be lost.  We know the Lord puts people in our lives for encouragement, love and balance and these are “our people.”  

Over the past few weeks the story of the Israelites preparing to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land for the first time in Joshua 3 has been coming to mind.  It’s strangely peaceful how one story can offer such blessing in such different circumstances over the past days.  See we are standing on the bank now; waiting, praying, preparing and planning to cross.  Now our story is not like the Israelites as they have been wandering about, but more as they prepare to step into a new light.  So as our toes become ever so close to the waters that separate the here and now to God’s plan ahead the tears flow.  We know that as we move in faith and step into our “Jordan” the Lord is going to do more than we could ever imagine, but it’s hard to look back and see who is standing on the shore and not crossing with us.  We know that prayers, love and support will go with us, but it’s not the same and it hurts.  A true friend is a gift from the Lord and we are leaving them behind.  I know you can’t have your cake and eat it too (whatever that means) but I had no idea that leaving “our people” would be so hard. 

 

So as I grieve a loss before it’s actually gone I’m reminded of the glory ahead.  As I fumble through the house trying to stay busy and suppress the emotional gut check in my soul; I hear Samuel’s voice on a video Jen is watching, and a smile comes to our faces as tears fall.  See it’s not about what we are leaving behind, but about the road ahead and what’s around the bend that we cannot see.

There is no doubt, we will miss “our people” but I can’t imagine the past few years of life without them!  Lord Jesus, thank you for them; for how they have loved us and our kids, for what we have learned from them, and for the years to come, whether together or apart!

Alf, Sarah, Hannah & Pia - WE LOVE YOU!

Sean & Jen

“When you are in God’s family, you have a hope!” Samuel Tilus