Yesterday was July 4th. Susan and I decided to carry our chairs down to a little beach here on the Northern Neck of Virginia. This beach is all of 200 yards long, but it is special. Sitting on this beach you look across the mouth of the Potomac River and can see directly into the Chesapeake Bay. We've been here three years and this was the first time we set up the umbrella and chairs.
We expected the beach to be crowded, but there were just two other families there. For the first hour it felt like we owned the place. The sun was hot, but a breeze blowing off the water and our umbrella made for a more than comfortable afternoon. Waves lapped the shore in a divinely set rhythm. Shore birds called out to us. Salt water aroma ministered to more than nose and palate as it assimilated into the spirit.
This was more than peaceful; it was Peace.
After a while, two families arrived. Soon, there were a dozen children playing in the water. Added to our Peace was the sound of kids having fun. And it was good.
A mother came with her two daughters. One girl was loving the water. The other was timid. In the end, Mom was playing with both girls in the cool water.
There was a little three year old. Spider-man skiv-ees were his swim trunks. He was loving the beach, trying to do headstands in 6 inches of water and falling over laughing and blowing water every time.
One family brought their Yorkshire Terrier. This 6 months old pup was running everywhere. Greeting everyone. Hopping in the water like a goat. First, this way down the beach at full speed. Next, that way down the beach. In the water. In the sand. Poor little thing looked like a drowned rat, but she was having fun. We got the biggest kick out of watching her.
We arrived home after 3 hours at the beach. I realized just how relaxed I was. I was quietly smiling. Susan and I had been given a special peace. And with that peace came healing for our ragged spirits. The beach had become a healing place for us.
God has sent us another street light.
I'm a 2-year survivor of Stage 3 EC and have had six clean PET scans thus far. What you name "Street Lights", I called angels. A group of angels surrounded me during the worst times and were mostly those humans whom I least expected to insert themselves into my life. I live alone and, at 68, had to spend nearly 4 months in the hospital on a feeding tube following my May 2010 gastroesophagectomy. For almost a year, I journaled my heart out on a Caring Bridge site. It was my tether to life daily and accumulated around 14,600 "hits". It's still active since every few months, I update visitors on my progress. Feel free to visit: caringbridge.org/visit/nancyedwards1
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy. I have appreciated your posts on Daily Strength. Tonight I went to your Caring Bridge. Your honesty is refreshing. Our experiences and observations are helping people.
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