Parking Hope

Psalm 44:1 We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

I showered, shampooed and shaved.  I painted and primped.  I even purchased a new dress - an unbudgeted extravagance.  Something deep inside whispered the significance of this night. I'm not sure I spent this much time preparing for my wedding day.

Why did I walk down the aisle?  This thought flickered often in my mind.  My nuptial dreams turned nightmare and ended in divorce.

Tonight I stood before my full length mirror in black.  I approved of my reflection.  My preparations had paid significant dividends.

I opened the door, the look on my date's face made it clear he too approved of my appearance.  He muttered a "wow" as I gathered my purse and said my goodbyes to my two little girls.

We chatted easily en route to the upscale restaurant my companion had selected.  Even the parking lot looked expensive I noted.

He opened my car door.  As I glided toward the entrance, he gently placed his hand in the small of my back.  Immediate energy pulsed through every nerve.  Was this excitement?  It couldn't be love - a divorced mother of two does not fall in love on the first date.  No this was something different. 

Hope. Hope was what I'd offered my friend.  Now God extended hope to me.  Hope reached down from heaven and touched me through his hands.

I never tire of reliving those miraculous first moments with my future husband.  God didn't give me this extraordinary experience for me to hoard.  The power of a story is realized when it is shared.

My faith grew as I saw God work in my life.  The faith of my children can blossom when I recount God's faithfulness to them.  As far as my kids are concerned, the events of 2002 might as well have occurred when George Washington fought for our independence.  In my heart, they are as real as if they happened yesterday.  That vision isn't taught; it is caught through repetition.

Jesus, may I relive and relay the moments of Your grace both from my history and in my present day.  I tell of Your works so my children park Your hope in their hearts.  Remind me and them how You parked hope in my heart...in a parking lot.