INSPIRASUNS

If you’ve been reading this blog very long you know that I like to spend time in the morning and the evening out on my lanai, (Florida term for patio), having my check-in time with Father. When I travel, sometimes it’s not easy to find a quiet spot to have those daily conversations. However, here in SC that hasn’t been a problem. There is a nice deck where I can sit each morning and evening to spend time with Father. In the mornings it’s so quiet, only the wildlife noises can be heard. Since the only vehicles on the island are work vehicles, you don’t even hear the sounds of cars going by. It is literally just the wildlife. In the evening you don’t even hear that, maybe a cricket or two, that’s about it 🙂 . You don’t realize how peaceful the quiet can be until you truly experience it in nature.

Last night I was sitting out on the deck after the sun went down. As I mentioned in this little blog a few days ago, Daufuskie Island has no street lights, so when it gets dark, well, it’s dark. As I sat and talked with Father I looked around, ya, didn’t see much. However, off in the distance through a grouping of trees the Hilton Head lighthouse flashed its light. Through the darkness, the light broke through. It reminded me that even in the darkest times, Father’s light will break through.

This morning as I type this little blog I’m thinking about the wife of one of the members here this week. I shared a little about this couple yesterday. They are in their late 80’s and she has dementia. Her loving husband is by her side taking care of her. Yesterday she spent the day on the cart with him, and he played an incredible round of golf! When we gathered before dinner for a fun putting contest, you could tell she was tired. She was kind of standoffish and didn’t want to be around too many people. It made me sad because she was much more open the day before. I understand though, it’s part of the disease.

We made our way inside for dinner and as the evening progressed she relaxed more and began to interact. The table did a toast to good friends and she eagerly held up her glass. It made me smile. After dinner I wandered over and knelt down beside her to ask if dinner was good, she smiled big and said, “It was wonderful”. I asked if I could bring her dessert, (from the self-serve ice cream, and cobbler station). She said she loved chocolate, “I’ll be right back”, I said. I topped a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and made my way back. As I sat the ice cream down in front of her she beamed. I knelt down again and asked if this was ok, and she nuzzled my neck saying, “I just love you”. The light had broken through the darkness of her dementia as the evening had progressed. When she left she and her husband were smiling hand in hand. Admittedly, the little moments when she is lucid are just those, little moments. But each one is a new memory to last a lifetime.

Friends, we all have challenges in our lives. Sometimes those challenges seem overwhelming, the darkness sets in and we don’t know where to turn. Open your heart, share your fears, frustrations, anger, whatever the emotion, share it with Jesus. Let Him lift it all from you and let His light break through the darkness.

Have a good day friends. Continued prayers for sweet Emily Rea’s return.

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”