In Early March I took a road trip, the first I had ever driven that far alone, to northern Georgia and Alabama for my aunt’s funeral. Thank God for GPS! I cannot imagine doing it without that. Still, I gave myself time and did make a few wrong turns that I think were really the way I was supposed to go, but I will save that for another post.
As I write this I do so still with a bit of hesitation as I know my mom will read this. She was worried about me going. Maybe it will help that I tell this after the fact.
Going around Chattanooga, Tennessee, I was a bit surprised that I would need to drive over a mountain, complete with runaway truck ramps on the way down. It was raining and later in the day, so it was also dark. I stayed in the slow lane and just decided I was going to drive like a grandma, which I chuckled to think I am.
After accomplishing that, I found the very hilly roads that too me to my cousin’s home in northern Alabama. Again, I was surprised that there were so many hills! I guess when I had visited before I had flown into Atlanta and come up from the south, which did not give me the same perspective. In the future, it might help if I look at a typographical map, but there is also the adventure in surprise. I found the unknown was also an exercise in trust.
Anyhow, I was driving the winy, hilly, curvy, road, at night, and in the rain. I had even called my cousin to see if I was on the right road. The GPS was telling me I was, but from earlier experience, I know it will also redirect your route if you take a wrong turn. The radio was not coming in and I turned it off. Instead, I found myself singing a song I learned as a child. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”. I sang it over and over again. I figured if I was going to die on the road, I would go out singing. I know quite a few songs by heart, but I could not think of the words or tune to another. My singing was really a prayer, and quite fervent at that.
Fast forward to today. A lovely and dear couple brought us dinner on Monday night after I had sent an email asking for prayers. (My intent was not to get dinner when I sent it. I was actually a bit embarrassed–however very touched–to receive the attention.) They also bought these hope-filled planed daffodil bulbs. At the time the bids were not even blooming. But look at them this morning. It is like they are singing with mouths wide open.
Again, a little song from my childhood came to me, which I decided to make into a little graphic. I will send this to our dear friends to thank them. It might not be proper to send email thank yous, but that is what I am going to do anyway. I will include this image above with so much joy.
Even in the midst of much heartache, may you also find gratitude and joy.
Blessings,
Christine
