This past weekend my family & I celebrated 4th of July in the Keys. It was a beautiful weekend filled with sun, fun, family & friends. This weekend had many great moments, but it also brought up some very real emotions….
Exactly three years ago Aaron & I were having the best year of our lives! We got married, traveled to an amazing, exotic place for our honeymoon, watched three of our closest friends get married and Aaron caught his very first Blue Marlin! Three years ago on 4th of July weekend Aaron experienced something many people wait their entire lives to experience! Catching a Blue Marlin is amazing and that day on the boat was incredible and it was a day that Aaron cherished so much!
This weekend I also stayed in the room which Aaron stayed in when he & his family first stayed at my parents Keys house. This is the room where Aaron saw a picture of me and decided then that he wanted to know more about me. Who was I? What was I like? Was I single?! He always told me that when he saw my picture he knew it was going to be something special.
Staying in that room brought up so many mixed emotions of sadness and anger because he is no longer here with me, but it also brought up emotions of joy and happiness. I asked God all of the whys and I cried out to Him. Then He, as only He can, gave me a beautiful memory that I will cherish forever. Our little Noraa was playing beside me in the bed and after a couple of minutes of playing she ended up curled up right next to me. She had fallen asleep right by my side, holding on to my hand. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever experienced. Being in “that room” with her, sharing this moment was truly a gift from God. I instantly felt so overwhelmed with God’s loving presence.
I feel led to share my experiences, my good days & bad days, because I want people to know that even when you are right in the middle of a storm, you can choose to live everyday with HOPE.
“Meanwhile, we on this dying earth can relax and rejoice for our loved ones who are in the presence of Christ. As the apostle Paul tells us, though we naturally grieve at losing loved ones, we are not “to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our parting is not the end of our relationship, only an interruption. We have not “lost” them, because we know where they are. They are experiencing the joy of Christ’s presence in a place so wonderful that Christ called it Paradise. And one day, we’re told, in a magnificent reunion, they and we “will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).”
-Quote from “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn
Love ~ Suzanne and Noraa
Running With Peace 