Jesus has you. Everyday. Always

Beach Jewels on Simmons Island Beach, Kenosha, WI

Jesus, I was hoping you would have something for me here at the beach today. You often do when I take time to look up, look down, look around, but I didn’t do a lot of that kind of looking today. While I found myself restless in my body, there still was a peacefulness of mind and soul that comes with the sound of the waves, even when they are quietly slipping in and out like they are today.

I roamed the beach, looking for beach jewels, shards of discarded, broken glass, seasoned by the lake water, stones, sand, and time, reminding me You make all things new.

I know I spend most of my time looking down when I walk the beach these days. That’s where the treasures are. Every now and then I did stop to pay attention, to ask if you had something for me here today. Like I said, I’m restless in my body today and the still, quiet moments were fleeting.

And now here I am at the end of this sun-filled, blue-sky, blue-lake day, still wondering if you had something for me, and with a tinge of disappointment it seems you didn’t  Did I miss it?

I take time now to look up, look down, look around here at my go-to-beach. This place has held sacred moments for me over the years. I have grieved losses and processed the growth that comes with the losses because I learned You don’t waste suffering if we cooperate with you. I’ve felt lonely and sad, and happy here. I have breathed deeply here. I feel most alive when I am at the Lake. Mostly I’ve felt your presence.

I look south along the shore and see the skyline of Chicago forty-six miles south. Because my phone fell into the lake, I can’t even take a picture, but I do have a picture of the first time I noticed it.

Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL

Even though I know these are man-made structures I’m seeing as the sun begins to set, the scene captures my attention.  It seems like they are saying, “See, we are still here. Knowing how quickly a skyline can change, it always makes me happy to see the familiar arrangement of skyscrapers outlined against the evening sky.

And I hear You say:

I am here. Don’t you see?
I’ve been with you all-day
as you slowly made your way up
and down the beach.

Your head down, eyes focused
looking to find color in the stones.
I know how happy it makes you.
I delighted in your joy.

When you sat on the shore, digging
through the layers of sand
finding more color in the dirt
I sat beside you, smiling

When you did a little happy dance
as your footprint uncovered that
tiny red shard, your first-ever
I danced with you.

When you dropped those precious
Cobalt Blues into your bag
with a happy sigh,
I was delighted along with you .

When you connected with a new friend
while digging through those stones
You felt joy.
I felt joy with you

When your phone took
dip in the lake
You didn’t panic
I didn’t panic either.

When you felt that tinge of sadness
thinking I had nothing for you today
I was sad with you.
I was with you all day.

I have you. Everyday. Always.
Can that be enough for today?

I breathed a deep sigh of
contentment
smiled and said
“Oh Yes, It’s enough.”
* * *
Jesus has me. Everyday. Always.
and . . .
Jesus has you. Everyday. Always.

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