“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people, He adorns the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
I got to go home this past weekend to Tidal, PA. My brother invited my husband and I last minute on a golfing trip with him and his lifelong friend, Shawn. Going back to Tidal, for me, is like going home. I spent the first 12 years of my life there, living in a little house on a hill. One of our group members’ lives in that house now, she has raised her family there in the past 30 plus years since we left. I know my childhood home is well taken care of and still full of love. I felt like a kid again this weekend, back playing ball with the boys out in the backyard. I was able to share this precious place with my husband in a way he had never experienced before this.
Pennsylvania is a beautiful state, they call it the rolling hills of PA. And they are, I was holding on for dear life as we raced from one golf course to the next in our quest to complete 63 holes in 48 hours. A glorious weekend filled with the beautiful countryside of PA. We saw a horse and buggy going about his business in the Amish country. The landscape was breathtaking as we stood on top of the hills, waiting to tee off. But what I loved most was the people. I loved witnessing the friendship between my brother and his best friend. I loved the conversations we had about days gone by, adventures long over, and the stories I hadn’t heard. I loved seeing my life long friend Lori, running into her at breakfast, visiting with her over dinner, priceless. I loved watching the love between Shawn and his wife, a love so deep it takes my breath away. And I loved visiting Reva and her son Gary, the first time I’ve been able to see them and offer my condolences for the loss of her son, his brother this past spring. All of these people are my family. They have known me my entire life, they know my ups and downs, as I know theirs. A piece of my heart will always live in Tidal, it will always be home to me.
Being happy with what you have isn’t about things, it’s about people. The people who you love and who love you. Making them a priority in your life, enjoying their presence will bring you happiness in the moment. The moments are all we have, none of us knows what tomorrow will bring, but we know what is right in front of us right now. Make the most of your moments with the people you love, let them take your breath away. Let the moments God gives you with them make you yearn for more. Don’t take today for granted, be happy where you are. Look for God in the midst of your day and you will find Him. You find Him in the knowing glance between friends, in the hug that offers condolences and in the love that is shared silently between people who have lived life together, the good and the bad. He is always there, in the moments, if you just look for Him. When you find Him, you will find His joy.
