Four Girls Later

Johnny and I once had someone tell us that God picked us up out of someone else’s pile. Friends, this could not be more true. The latter part of the sentence was that He took us and said, “Look what I am going to do with you”. When I heard those words 8 years ago, it resonated. I was undone by my two sweet girls, the love I had for Johnny, and the life we were building. Yet, never in my wildest dreams could I have dreamt up this life. 

It’s a wild ride. Still full of challenges, mistakes, misgivings, and sometimes downright heartache. Even yet, there is so much hope. Hope for a future. Hope of what is and what’s to come. 

God makes beauty for ashes. 

Our three oldest daughters decided to get baptized yesterday. I am completely undone. I will save their story and the wrestling that went with it for another day, or maybe not at all, as it will always be their story to tell. 

I’ve recently seen a trend going around social media called the “butterfly effect”. A quick google search returned this information from Forbes, “the idea that small and seemingly insignificant actions, such as a butterfly flapping its wing, can evolve into much greater events.” 

Yesterday, after their baptism, we went to breakfast to celebrate. I walked in and saw a precious young girl working, not as our server, but working in the restaurant. I whispered to my husband that I had a connection to her. This is now the verbiage I use when I realize that God puts someone on my heart. Whether it’s seeing a complete stranger, a new friend I just met but feel instantly connected to, a homeless person sitting on a sidewalk, or even a family member.  

He looked at me and smiled, knowing I’ll probably try to find a way to engage with her in conversation and we continue ordering. 

I should also mention we were seated across from a sweet family in which the mom was wearing probably the cutest shoes I have ever seen. As she walked out, I commented on her shoes and thought how utterly beautiful her family was with two precious little children. To my surprise, she was there at church when the girls got baptized and commented on how special and encouraging it was to her growing family. 

When it was time to get the bill, remember the sweet girl working there that I felt connected to? She let us know that the woman with the beautiful shoes had told her about our daughter’s baptism, and then paid for our breakfast. 

That sweet girl… She didn’t just tell us, she was emotionally undone doing so. Whether by the family that surprisingly paid or the choice of baptism my sweet girls made, I’m unsure. In fact, i am not sure to what extent it affected her, but I am certain it was something big. 

The butterfly effect, friends, it’s God. Every step you take God is with you, whether you acknowledge it or not. You don’t have to worry that you’ve somehow blown it. There is no mistake that you can make that is too far gone. There is no season of your life that’s too far away from the grace of God. 

Our current reality is not what the future has to be. God has great plans for my girls. God has great plans for you. 

Shine your light. 

Xoxo, 

Sara