The Long Trip Home

 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Have you ever noticed how many times things don’t go exactly as you think they will?  Today is one of those days.  In my plan, I was going to get up at 5 and get on a plane at 7 and be home from Houston by 3.  Then the texts started coming…delay after re-book after new city.  Instead of a quick trip home, I’m sitting in Philadelphia (because Houston to Philly to Grand Rapids makes perfect sense…right!) and should be in my driveway by 10 tonight.  Not the plan I had cooked up, but I decided early this morning it was going to be an “eyes wide open” kind of day.  I’m glad I made that choice because I saw a lot of cool stuff.

By 6:30 this morning I was already in a customer service line arranging my first re-book and I just watched the people in front of me in line.  I watched a young man who had a walker to balance his unsteady body as he tried to walk on his new prosthetic leg.  He was managing a huge suitcase and a walker and a wobbly body, just wanting to get home after a long medical stay in Houston.  He was quiet and patient as they got him re-situated and I was impressed with his strength and his smile in spite of his physical challenges.  He showed me perseverance and gratefulness.

The lady in line next to me at the counter was throwing a huge hissy fit because she was going to have to sit in Miami an extra two hours before she could get to  her ten day vacation in Aruba.  She was mad at the clerk, she was mad at her husband and when she said she was so mad she thought she was going to have a panic attack, I just touched her elbow and told her I’d say a prayer that her travel panic would calm.  She immediately softened and settled…God is so good.  I handed her a tissue to wipe her tears and she went on her way more calmly.  He showed me how he can soften, strengthen and bring peace when we ask.

Two hours later, I got in line again to re-book and standing in line in front of me was a toddler who had just had it.  As her daddy set her down to hand his paperwork to the ticket agent, his daughter went into a full out melt down.  She cried, rolled on the floor and sobbed.  Over and over she kept saying, “Daddy I want you to hold me!”  She was hot, hungry, tired and overwhelmed.  Once her daddy finished what he was doing, he picked her up and she was instantly calm and peaceful.   Although it would be more appropriate for me to pray than roll on the floor screaming for my Father to pick me up, he showed me that he’s what I need and when I call to him and trust that he hears me, he will bring me the same peace and comfort that toddler found in the arms of her daddy.

As I sat in busy airports all day I saw fancy people, frumpy people, happy people, shiny people and cranky people.  I saw people excited about going places and people disappointed about their destination.  I saw thousands of people, each with a different story but each with a common thread.  No two people looked the same or waited the same or interacted the same, yet, each and every one of them were created in the image and likeness of God.  Each one was made was fearfully and wonderfully made.  Today, he allowed me to sit and marvel at the wonder of his creation.  Thank you Father for letting me see how creative and wonderful your work is even when it wasn’t my planned activity for the day!

A Seed to plant:  Take some time this week just to watch people and marvel at the creativity of our Creator.​

Blessings on your day!