I doubt it was her first ice cream cone because she seemed to know what to do.
But it was her first ice cream cone with us.
One summer Sunday evening.
A moment captured through the lens of love.
Imprinted in memory and stamped on our hearts.
A delicious dive into delight.
We walked down the street with her between us clutching our index fingers.
And then she wrenched away to spin in circles until I thought she might do a face plant on cement.
Hands on bent knees, she woofed back at unseen dogs.
She pointed skyward at the invisible.
She danced in grassy yards and gravelly driveways.
She ooooh’ed and ahhhh’d at the insignificant.
She soaked it all in.
And so did we.
Through her.
“What are you looking forward to?” Pastor Bill asked that morning.
I thought of settling in to watch the Tigers play–and win (they lost.)
I thought of next week’s trip to the upper peninsula and the ACFW conference next month.
I thought of a house finally in total repair and perfectly decorated.
I thought of a completed book.
Published maybe even.
New stuff.
And then he reminded us that most of what we look forward to is just a fleck of time.
Like a mosquito we flick off our arm.
And that every now experience is new.
Every ice cream cone is new.
Because every moment is new and different.
And then gone.
We’re so intent on the future, we don’t open our ears to the silence.
We don’t open our eyes to the unseen.
We don’t gasp at and grasp each wonder-drenched day.
We don’t savor each God-dipped, joy-dripped moment.
We don’t step aside to investigate the flames.
Our divided hearts cling to the fingers of the comfortable.
And though He’s relentless for us, we’re not reckless for Him.
We crave the comfortable and hope in the temporal while we claim surrendered lives.
But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through. ~Francis Chan in Crazy Love
Bill asks (and so does Francis), “What are you doing right now that requires faith?”
My answer is “not much.”
But I’m learning to wallow in the glory.
And the melting moments.
Maybe that’s a start.
Okay, so maybe spilling my words in public and attempting to write fiction with no promises take faith, but it seems so tiny in comparison to those in the hall of faith (Hebrews 11.)
But then Francis asks, “How would my life change if I actually thought of each person I came into contact with as Christ–the person driving painfully slow in front of me, the checker at the grocery store who seems more interested in chatting than ringing up my items, the member of my own family with whom I can’t seem to have a conversation and not get annoyed?”
That’s everyday faith stuff.
And I have some work to do there.
Question: What are you doing that requires faith?
In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal. ~John 12:25 Message)
What a cute picture! :o)
Thanks, Nikole. My daughter has cute genes. She turned out a couple beauties. 😉
What a loaded question?! That photo is adorable … and a great reminder to savor all that life brings.
😀
Lovely! My meditations are remarkably similar. “A delicious dive into delight.” And what an adorable child. Such good gifts He gives us in these moments.
Love to you.
Including gifts of cyber friends with the hope of FTF one day in the temporal–but promised in the eternal. Love right back at you, Jeanne.
What gifts you’ve been given, the joy of watching her eat that ice cream cone and of seeing her spin around in circles. A dive into delight, indeed.
The good news about those situations in which we’d be in deep trouble if God didn’t come through–sometimes if I’m too timid to plunge in, God loves me enough to lead me there anyway. Seems He will do whatever it takes to teach His dear children to trust Him.
Isn’t that true, Nancy? If we don’t jump, He might just push us. 😉
Enjoying the simple things in life and what a joy to watch a child woof like a dog and to imagine that she is one. We must learn to play more and enjoy God. I like your sentence, to wallow in His Glory.
And I love how she gets down on her belly and “ows” at my cats. When I say “love,” she puts her sweet cheek against their fur. Pure. Delight.
Yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t here, all we have is this moment. Will we use it or loose it? Samuel Clemens said it well, “I’ve lived a through some really tough times, some of them actually happened.” We shouldn’t borrow trouble, today’s are enough, and so are the joys. Great post. Loved the pictures.
Great quotes, Cecilia! Good thoughts to savor! Thanks.
Every moment is new and if not savored, is gone before you know it. Learning to seek and savor the sweetness of now. (and wishing for some cool, soft vanilla ice cream right about now!)
Chocolate dipped? There are days I’d like to just bury my chin in ice cream like this. Just for fun. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Denise. I LOVE your blog’s name.
What gift you’ve been giving with words. Thoughtful, deep, and spiritual. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Patricia.
This is so good.
Yes, indeed … “Every ice cream cone is new.”
Your post today inspires me to live more presently, living more fully in this moment, without racing toward the next thing.
Thank you for your gift of words.
I have a new favorite ice cream since I can’t find my lemon this summer–coconut pineapple. It demands a slow down. Close your eyes, and you can almost smell the beach. 🙂
Wallowing with you, going deeper, ever deeper.
:D:D
Continuing to try to negotiate between my husband and my teenaged son, in faith that one day they will like each other again.
Oh, Megan. Those years are so, so hard and exhausting. For some of us much worse than others. I’m praying for you, girl.
Sandy,
This touches a spot inside me that’s extra-tender these days.
These wonder-drenched days.
What a wonderful thought for me to hold. Thanks.
I think I smelled Hawaii in that coconut-pineapple ice cream. It’s so hard to cherish the now when your heart is longing for the then, isn’t it?
I just love reading about your time with your sweeties! And what more fun? Ice cream? It makes everything a party. Love this, Sandy. Love it.
I remember my parents wanting to give my daughter an ice cream cone when she was itty. And me, the overprotective mom who didn’t want her spoiled with unhealthy food. And now she came to love junk food anyway, and I stole their memories.
It is so wonderful to see through the eyes of a child. They so enjoy each moment. I love your thoughtful comment, “We don’t gasp at and grasp each wonder-drenched day.” May we, like children, learn to do this!
Amen, Patti!
A wonderful post, Sandy. I so often live with my eyes focused on the future, rather than the present moment (although the God in the Yard study is helping with that!).
As for how I am living in faith this moment? I am trusting that God has it all in control.