The Waiting Walk

We went to the BEACH this weekend! If you’re from the PNW, you know normally we go to the coast. The coast has some beautiful beaches, but it isn’t “the beach” because it’s usually quite chilly at best and enough wind to carry you away if you’re not mindful. 😜

But this weekend? It was over 80 degrees and absolutely counted as the beach. I was LOVING it. (Although the water was still as cold as ice. Or so I heard, because I remained firmly planted in the shade of a beach umbrella.)

It was also Mother’s Day. Our church does a weekend retreat to the coast every Mother’s Day weekend, and this is the second year we’ve been part of it. I get to fill up on great praise sessions, good food, and lots and lots of connecting with people in a deep, meaningful, and relaxing way. It’s rejuvenating. I get to just be. No school, housework, or other issues. It is definitely what I needed here as we are now in the last long and torturous month of school…

This year the theme was Testimony. We looked at what God has done in our lives. We reflected on how He has led. We heard our friends share glimpses of how they know God is real, how He has brought them to where they are today, and we all look forward to seeing Him continue to lead us onwards from here. It was inspiring and fulfilling.

As I look back on my life, as I reflect on my testimony, I am in awe of what God has been able to do in my life. I love the life I live. It’s not without hardships, and certainly not without mistakes, but I’m walking with my hand in God’s, and He gets me through. With joy. With peace.

As I watch my kids growing up and becoming young adults, I am in awe. I don’t deserve these amazing young people. I didn’t do it all right. I still don’t. And yet they love me anyway. Only three of them are with me this weekend. My oldest is at college and I couldn’t be prouder of how she’s thriving. My youngest is away on music tour with school. He was the first to text me this morning though to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day! My middle three were with me this weekend and we would say hello to each other as we passed on sidewalks or at meals. And it just makes me so happy to see them all happy. With their friends. Making wise choices often. Growing in independence and confidence. I know so many parents are so sad when their kids start gaining that independence and eventually leave home, but to me it just feels like success. We have come so far. We have come through so much. And to see them feeling safe enough to leave the nest with confidence, this is the way it should be.

My heart is full. God is good. One of the songs we sang this weekend was Goodness of God. It is a song that is pretty much constantly playing in my head. My testimony isn’t a moment in time. My testimony reflects the words of this song:

And all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God