Looking

8 Empty Picnic Table

I took these pictures last Fall. I’ve had them in a folder marked “End of Summer” for nearly twelve months. Once in awhile I would stumble over them. I would take a wistful glance before getting back to work. Inevitably the photos would make me smile but they would also make me a just a bit sad.

Today is no different.  And so it begs the question “Why on earth should I look at them? Perhaps its because as important as it is to look and do ahead it’s also important to take the time to look back.  Sometimes I’m not sure I do it enough. A year ago a still, foggy day captured me and before I knew it——I was looking back.

6 Foggy Fall Day

It was serene.

2 Empty Dock

The solitude was moving.

5 Life Jacket

You could smell the crispness of Fall. It was right around the corner. But despite the excitement and anticipation of marching bands and marshmallows over a fire there was an ache in me because I realized another summer was gone.

Life was going by fast.

4 Empty Slide

I could almost hear the gleeful shriek of kids playing in the water. If I closed my eyes I could smell the suntan lotion and the steady hum of boats speeding by.

3 Empty Raft

I opened my eyes and my ears were met with silence. But as I soaked it all in my sadness morphed into marvel as I wondered about all that God had given us. The gifts were grand indeed:

Family     Home     Futures     Opportunity     Friends     Passion     Work     Charity     Purpose     Faith

1 Lady Liberty

Suddenly I realized my sadness, just like the summer, had left.

I was simply Grateful.

Grateful as I looked back on the past season and equally grateful as I looked forward to a new season.  A season that would soon take on a very different form, nothing so familiar as leaves or life jackets. No, I began to see a whole new season of life. One in which the kids are away, my husband travels as he honors a calling, and me? Well, I think I will…

Continue to  Look.

Look forward to family homecomings.

Look forward to His coming. His coming into my daily life. His coming into my long term plans and passions. His coming as my Savior and Redeemer for life eternal.

Indeed, sweet DoAheads we have much to look forward to.

“No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—What God has arranged for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Your DoAhead Friend,

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