God’s love is always in the air!

He says He will never forsake us ~

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

"Forsake" means to abandon, desert, or completely leave someone or something, often in a time of need, implying a sense of betrayal, rejection, or being left alone. It suggests a withdrawal of support, love, or presence when it was expected.

God is Love and so His presence brings love with Him. Even when we do not “feel” or acknowledge His presence, God is there.

Today, on a mild January day, I see the sunshine streaming through the window and I think to myself, I want to get outside and go for a walk in this wonderful sunshine! I pick up my phone to invite a friend to go with me, but instantly know I am to go by myself. It is me and Him time and we are going to the beach!

I set out for a long walk on the beach. Most often I walk at a brisk energetic pace, but today I noticed I slowed my steps. I lingered and enjoyed each aspect of my surroundings. I saw a slight mound in the sand and thought ‘Sand dollar”! I bent down and gently moved the wet sand and there was the treasure. It was a small to medium, perfectly round sand dollar! I had not brought anything to put a treasure in, especially a wet, sand covered treasure. I gently put it in the ocean. I immediately knew that was not what I was supposed to do with it.

I continued my walk and thought, hopefully I will find another on the way back, so I won’t have to carry it the whole trip.

I walked about 30 minutes to my favorite area, where I sometimes see dolphins. Just a few minutes after thinking that I had not seen any dolphins so far, I saw a splash and there they were! Five dolphins, two light grey and three smaller dark grey ones. They were playing, having fun and getting a snack. They would swim to the surface, splash and make a circle back into the water, showing their entire bodies like a big O, as they dove back under the water, nose first. Periodically, they would slap their tails and come back up together as a group and eat, then leisurely glide forward for a minute and then back under the water again.This went on for maybe 25 minutes and I decided I should start my walk back towards the other end of the beach, near where I parked. It was difficult for me to leave them, the sight of them brings me such joy, every single time I see and hear them! But I turned and began to walk in the opposite direction.

As I was walking back, I thought about the sand dollar again. I felt I was supposed to bring one home. I said “God, will you help me to see them, please?” I saw the telltale sign and again, gently moved the sand. There was one, it had a small piece missing, I put it into the ocean. There was another one, rather large,and I decided to keep it. Then there was another one, very large, with white marks, crisscrossing over its entire surface, like someone had drawn intersecting lines on it using a ruler. They were scars. In all my life I had never seen this, and I thought “For it to be so large, it was probably older and had endured with these scrapes / scars. The older you get, the more opportunity for the hurts and injuries.” I put it into the ocean. I took a few steps and immediately regretted leaving it. I wanted to go back and find it but how far back was it, it was in the water and my son was waiting for me to pick him up from work and I still had a ways to walk. I kept going. I saw another one and kept it, so now I am carrying 2 wet, semi-prickly sand dollars carefully in my hand. I see others, but leave them. I need to pick up the pace. I looked out over the ocean and wanted to linger, but it was time to go ~

It seems like I walked on the beach alone, saw dolphins alone, and found sand dollars alone. I so often wish to share these times with friends, for my benefit and theirs! But I was not alone. God was with me the entire time, the entire way, and blessed me with His love, His presence, and His beautiful creations!!! Glistening ocean water, the sound of the rolling surf, a blue sky, the sight of the sunshine and the feel of its warmth, sand, shells, sand dollars, dolphins, birds, a soft cool breeze . . . and His gentle and still voice! God’s Love was in the air ~

As we move from January, which often feels like a new beginning and into February, which is often associated with St. Valentines Day and Love, know these two things; God is with you and He Loves you ~ ALWAYS!

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