Treasures

     Her grandfather's cedar chest was buried beneath a pile of clothes needing hangers. We moved them to the bed and lifted the lid. Hangers could wait. All the speculation and prospecting came down to this moment. Deep inside was a treasure, a treasure we had come to find. Before we could retrieve it, we had to move aside the blankets so lovingly and beautifully crocheted by my aunts twenty-seven years ago. There was a crib sheet and comforter that rocketed us both back to that nursery decorated in primary colors, so bright and cheerful. We found items tucked away for no other reason than there was no where else to put them. The belt I was wearing the night he proposed and gave me a beautiful diamond ring. The shoes I wore when I said, "I do." A knife with the stamp of the restaurant equipment company my grandfather worked for. Sympathy cards tied with a pretty bow with a dried rose attached from my father's grave. Little frames of cross-stitch I made for my hubby before we were married. The mother's copy of her birth certificate. A stack of her school papers and drawings. A card she had intended to mail to her BFF in sixth grade, sealed and addressed. Her royal blue graduation gown from RHS. Another blanket so carefully made by another precious lady who loved and cared for her dad when he was a boy.
     Then we found it, carefully wrapped in layers of plastic...                       my veil.
     After all these years it is still pretty and white, though a little wrinkled. As we pulled it out and her face lit up when she saw it, my heart was happy. It's a little dated with the headpiece, but that is easily remedied. We stood there, placing it on her head, spreading it out as best we could, which wasn't that good since it is so long. She twisted her hair up and showed me how she would like to wear it and we talked about how easy it would be to get it ready for 362 days from today.
     Now it is stashed away in a fresh bag and plans are made to contact a friend who can help us with the updates. The memories have been carefully replaced in the chest. She is gone, almost to her new home in Alabama after a wonderful, busy weekend visit to make some wedding plans. And here I sit. Heart swelled with emotion as my little girl plans to wear my veil when she weds the man of her dreams. It's a nice, satisfying feeling to know she wanted it. It just brings a certain peace that can't be described.
     As she left today I was ready to burst into tears. Not sad, miserable tears. Tears that can only be understood by the mother of the bride. She asked why. I just smiled and told her, "Can't explain it. You'll understand in twenty or thirty years." So in two weeks when we shop for her dress, I will have my pockets full of pretty hankies because sometimes life's blessings fill your heart with so much joy there is not enough room inside and it has to escape out of the corners of your eyes.
    
    

The Storm

     The darkness began to creep around us like a dense fog. The difference is, you can see the fog weaving its way through every crook and cranny, but the darkness quietly and quickly consumes you. As the lightning, massive, horrifying bolts of lightning, broke the sky, we were able to glimpse the intensity of the storm. On the weather app it was a relatively small area, but when you are in the middle of the purple spot on the radar screen it feels like the horror will never end. As the rain began there were only a few random large drops at first. Suddenly, however, we were blinded as another flash of lightning broke through the thick darkness, which apparently was the signal for sheets of thick rain to now wash over us. Traffic slowed immediately. Flashers came on. Leaning forward we tried to watch for the vehicles we knew were in front of us just minutes before. Creeping along with the line of traffic into a storm that grew deeper and more fierce by the second, we decided to get off the interstate and wait it out.
     We were pulling a cattle trailer behind our big dually pickup, so we couldn't just pull into any lot; we have to find one big enough. About a mile away we found the empty lot of a small business which had closed for the day. As we sat there the storm grew more severe, its power overtaking all in its path. The lightning piercing the black murk that had swallowed us served only to make us keenly aware of the danger we had wandered into.
     In the parking lot, though, the lights from the business provided a clear view. They welcomed us to a relative expectation of safety. They seemed to be a beacon, like a lighthouse to a ship on the storm-tossed sea. Sitting there, I watched the rain racing toward the drain, but it was coming down so fast there soon rose into a small river that would have been over my ankles should I have chosen to leave the safety of the truck and wade through it. So we waited. And waited. Until we thought enough of the worst had passed, allowing us a chance to head for home.
     We still had to drive in the rain. Sometimes it was heavy and sometime it was a sprinkle. As we drove out of the north end of the storm, the rain stopped, the darkness grew a little lighter, and soon the roads were dry. Traffic resumed its race to reach its destination. It was late. We were ready to get home and to our own bed.
     Life's trials can be like this storm. Sudden and very dark. Even though we knew a storm was brewing just ahead, there was nothing we can do to avoid it. We saw the lightning begin. We felt the darkness fall around us. We looked at the radar and knew we were driving right into it. Yet we had no where to go. Coming up I59 toward Chattanooga...well, it's the only way home. The. Only. Way. Home.
     Heaven. We long to be there to find rest from the storms in our lives. We know our destination is a place of rest and beauty. We know we are safe there. We know we will be welcomed and loved. We know there is Light there and there is NO darkness. But first we have life to live. Adventures to enjoy. Memories to make. And storms to face.
     So, live your adventure, my friend. There will be bright, sunny days with blue skies and fluffy clouds. There will be gray days with patches of blue sky showing through. There will be rainy days. There will be storms. When you are facing a storm that consumes your life. When you are enveloped in darkness so thick you couldn't cut it with a knife. When the rain falls so heavily you are unable to see where to step, remember who calms the storm. He's there. Waiting to be the safe place you pull into to escape the dangers and fears overwhelming your thoughts. Let Him love you and lead you through. He will. I promise.


Psalm 107:28-31 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!