Who is in your cloud?

The night time had come.  I stood on the beach watching the ocean as Aurora and Samuel played tag in the dark.  I enjoyed being able to listen to them laugh and play.  The moon played too, peeking at me between the ever changing clouds.   I was taken in by the stained glass ripples of the ocean as the moon showed it’s glory dancing blissfully upon the glass.  I longed to go out there and spin on that dance floor.  The wind rushed to the north and my long hair blew straight back.  I just had to laugh.  I looked up to the stars…

Memories flooded me.  As a child I used to play a game with my sisters.  We’d pretend we were walking on the ceiling using hand mirrors.  It was a lot of fun trying not to bump into each other!  Now, being without a mirror, I tilted my head back as far as I could.  My hair swirled and spun, I felt like I was walking on the starlit sky.  It was beautiful.

Beautiful like my dear friend, Millie.  Millie loved to walk at the ocean, eat at the ocean, just be near the ocean.   This is were she felt closest to God.  When looking out over the vast ocean, she’d remember that God is bigger than any problem she may be facing, and all of her problems would disappear.  Once again, her heart would be at peace.

I miss my dear friend.  It has been one year since her passing and I am so thankful that she was (and still is)  a part of my life.  How can she be now?  I tell you, she was a great friend.  She taught me so many things, not only about myself, but about God.  Whenever we were together she’d laugh with me and rebuke me when I did something stupid.  We’d eat together, shop together, go to the Dr.’s, pray, and go to church.  She shared her wisdom, gave me many wonderful memories, and placed in my hands her journal.  She has allowed me to read into the secrets of her life and her relationship with Christ and by doing so, she teaches me still.

I’m comforted in my thoughts of her by knowing that she sees me now in a greater capacity than ever before and I know that she still cheers me on.  Hebrews 12:1 opens up with “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”  I may not be able to see her and those that have gone before me, but someday I will.  Until then…

Let’s get running.  The “crowd” is cheering.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

Lamentations 3: 22-24