I'm the Lucky One

"Let me take your picture!" Kristin says to me, as she smiles and her eyes twinkle from across the table.  I ask why and she giggles.  I'm suspicious, "Do I look weird?  Do I have something in my teeth?  What are you up to?" I don't know how many pictures my kids have of me that are worthy of blackmail!  They are constantly catching me either sleeping with my mouth open or some other hideous expression on my face!  Kristin says, "I just want to send a picture to Kylie to prove that I am the luckiest one"....what?..."we are sending pictures back and forth trying to prove who is the luckiest one~~~I'm the luckiest one cuz I am with you!"  So she snaps a picture and promptly sends it to her sister, and gets a snapshot of Kylie back with a look of , "NO FAIR!" on her face, and a comment that says, "You're with Mama?!  I'm jealous!"
 I see this and my heart swells with gratitude.  And all of the aches of the day melt away as I realize that I am the lucky one.  Only luck has nothing to do with it~~~it is the purposeful and love-filled grace of God that gives this moment to us.

I just kept thinking of that moment all night, and each time I thought of it I got a big lump in my throat.  I am so touched by the love of my kids~~~ and the fact that they still want to spend time with me!  And I know, with all certainty, that God loves me even more!  And what if~~~what if we took "snapshots" of God and shared them with our loved ones to show them how "lucky" we are?  What if we announced to all those we know that we are the luckiest ones because we get to spend time with The Father?  I know one thing~~~there would be no need for jealousy because anyone who wants to be with Him, can.  He is present and among us at all times, and anyone who wants Him in their presence can be "the lucky one".

Could it be, that His presence is in each one of us who believe, and when we share our love with one another, we share a piece of His presence? We share a snapshot of God! I know it's true.  And when I am holding back, I am missing out on the greatest gift of all~~~the gift of making someone's heart swell with joy as He fills it with gratitude.

Thank you my sweet girls, for making your mama feel so special.  Thank you for sharing God's presence with me and for giving me so much joy.

Thank you God, for your everlasting presence in all the ways that you make yourself known~~~and felt by the heart. 

11/13