We Need More of This

The other day, John and I walked into the Apple store right at opening.  This is what greeted us.

It’s not a great picture, but all the staff (all 30 or whatever of them) lined up and CHEERED us in, clapping and woohooing!

Now cynics may be mumbling “Bah humbug! Marketing…” but not me.  It didn’t matter that the employees who were cheering  didn’t know us.  To me they were saying we’re in this together and we’ve made it through another day and night and we’re still here. We all deserve a cheer.

We need more parades, more “atta boy’s” and “atta girl’s”.

As I write these posts I try to think of you who are reading on the other side of the screen…

You’re starting a new business, a new graduate degree, a new job, or anticipating a new baby and the future is full of uncertainty about finances and all of the things.

You’re a young mom who can’t remember the last time she had a full night’s sleep or a moment alone, or a shirt without spit up on it and you’re struggling with every fiber of your being Not. To. Lose. It.

You are fighting cancer, or addiction, or anorexia and you’re begging God for strength and healing.

You’ve experienced betrayal or rejection or loss and you’re desperate for the power to forgive and know you are always loved and valued by God.

You’re stuck or floundering or overworked and you long for direction or rest.

Or maybe it’s just been another ordinary week where you’ve put one foot in front of the other.

And for many, perhaps your most eloquent prayer has been “Helpmehelpmehelpme!”

You’ve made it to the end of another week. You’ve had your less than stellar moments, sure, but you’ve also had moments of bravery and patience, and kindness.  You’ve persevered.

So high five and “way to go!” You deserve to be celebrated!

This week we’re in Florida and every morning as I bike to Starbucks I pass this little old lady who is practically engulfed by the HUGE neon yellow safety vest she’s wearing. She carries her coffee, and she takes the teensy tiniest steps you can imagine, but there she is in the walker’s lane of the road, and I want to throw her a party! She just keeps going, not “despising the day of small things” (Zech 4:10)

If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, shuffle. If you can’t shuffle, crawl. Just keep moving. I’m cheering you on today. But more importantly, God is.

Let those on the hunt for You sing and celebrate. Let all who love your saving way say over and over, “God is mighty!” Psalm 70:4