This post is for all my friends, who like me, did NOT make it to the beach this year. Yep, there were times I felt like you – seeing all the posts of people on the beach and wanting at times so desperately to be there myself. I love the beach! The feeling you get as you stare across the ocean and watch the sun rise or set behind it. It’s almost like you’re closer to God there. The peacefulness of the waves hitting the shore. The hustle and bustle at bay. Oh I get it! But this year? I didn’t get to experience it. In fact? It’s been about 5 years since I’ve been to the beach. And I must say, I miss it. I bought a house a few months ago, and so due to choices I made, the expense of a trip to the beach wasn’t a reality for me this summer. Sometimes in life? We have to make those choices. But I had vacation time to burn before the end of the year. So… I had a “staycation”… and you know what? There was beauty here. Monday, after praying “God use me today”, in His perfect timing I was right where I needed to be to pray for a young mother and her babies in the NICU. Had I been at work, or the beach, I would’ve missed that precious moment. There’s no greater feeling than knowing that when you’re available to be used by the Lord? He’ll use you. Every. time.

The rest of the week brought time with the most precious little boy in the world. My grandson. I got to see the world through the eyes of a child once again. I was reminded how important play time, and nap time are. As adults? We need to remember to play… and nap! Both do our hearts good! As I see how much love this little boy has surrounding him? My heart breaks even more for every child I’ve seen lately who’s being abused or neglected. It’s stirred my soul to pray that God shows me how to help the children. And while I didn’t have a beach to look at, in the silence of my home I got to watch the sun come across the top of the trees in my sunroom (My sunroom that just 3 short years I ago I didn’t think would be possible on my own. Yet? Here I am!) I sat there in the sun reading the word and spending time alone with the Lord, refilling my cup so I can once again pour out. The day I didn’t have Cade? I slept in til 9:30 and IT WAS GLORIOUS!! A treat I rarely get.

The moral of this story? While beaches are amazing, and I’m so happy for all my friends who got to go, you can find solitude, peace and joy in the every day. It’s all a state of the mind and heart. Don’t get so distracted with what you don’t have right now, that you miss out on what you do. During Fight Club we were asked “Where is the one place you’d like to be?” Many answered the beach, others the mountains, and then? This one woman said something that blew me away and made me pause. She said “I want to be in His presence”… Why didn’t I think to say that?!? Because if you’ve ever experienced that? That peace and love that’s tangible? There’s truly no better place to be. “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalms 16:11

I’ll get to the beach again someday – and it will be even more amazing because I’ve had to wait for it. But until then? I won’t take for granted, or stop seeing the beauty, in my own back yard.

Be blessed my friends, and remember to find the beauty in the every day.

Love,

Kris