We had a WONDERFUL family vacation in Destin this year. All of my good intentions regarding writing about our vacation and various other summer activities obviously went by the wayside. I think Father's Day was when I last took time to write.
Our trip to Destin was in honor of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary, which is actually next month. Instead of a traditional "Golden Anniversary" party or reception, they really just wanted all of us to be together. They rented a beautiful house on the beach and those of us who could get away for the week, spent that time hanging out together, talking, laughing, playing games, and soaking up that wonderful beachy feeling of total relaxation.
I really enjoyed being able to "get away"...from work, from responsibilities, from pressures and worries for that week. I enjoyed spending time with my parents, my siblings, my nephews and niece, and especially my two daughters. It was a week of more healing for me....the healing that comes with being able to destress, of being able to connect with God in HIS world, to thank Him for His creation; of being able to talk and share, to laugh until my sides hurt.
I always like to read, and I packed a novel for the beach, and I also threw in a devotional book titled "Healing the Divorced Heart". It was a book I had purchased a few weeks beforehand, but had planned on keeping it for the trip. I didn't even notice until I was unpacking upon arrival that the cover had a woman walking on the beach. I couldn't help but smile. There really is something healing about being near the water...there is a serenity that comes with watching the waves and just letting God's love pour over you.
One of the afternoons when I ventured into the water, the surf was fairly rough. Wave after wave kept knocking us down. My sister, Terri, grabbed my hand, and helped me up after one rather ungraceful wipeout. Coming up out of the water, laughing and sputtering, covered in sand and seaweed....she helped me walk without falling so much. Then right as my confidence built up, a big wave would come and sweep me off my feet. She related the waves knocking me down to the waves in life. She said "Don't let these waves keep you down. Get back up...keep walking. When one knocks you down, just stand up and start again." As we walked the waves together, hand in hand, (except when we would get swept away) I thought of the symbolism my younger sis so wisely pointed out. So many things in life DO knock us down. The important thing is to get back up. And what a blessing it is when there is someone beside you, reaching out their hand to help you get your footing again. With every wave that we conquered that day, I felt stronger. By the time we got past the point where the waves were crashing, they were just pleasant waves, bouncing us up and down. We stayed out there and talked for awhile.
I hope that as I continue on my life journey, that I always do get back up when I am knocked down. I hope I always remember that God has His hand held out...all I need to do is take hold and allow Him to pull me back up. And I pray that I always have my eyes open to the family and friends who also are jumping the waves with me, hands outstretched to help me along....and also that my eyes are open to those who need MY hand stretched out towards them.
I can honestly say that I am thankful for waves....the wonderful fun waves that knock you down, the calming waves that lull you to sleep, the majestic waves that make you so aware of God's awesome creation, the waves in life that knock you down but make you stronger, the waves of God's love and healing that pour out over you, the gentle and lapping waves that come after those rough ones, and for the family and friends who will take your hand and help you battle the waves and get back up each time.
