Highlights
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
What has been the highlight of your summer so far—travel? sunshine? time off from work? family? How about the highlight of your life to date—earning a degree? professional success? falling in love? owning your first home? having a child or a grandchild?
However you answer, may you see God’s mighty acts in your life and tell the next generation like Psalm 145:4 reminds us. I like that verse so much that I highlighted it in my paperback copy of Psalms.
Let me tell you why.
A highlight of my life happened one summer many years ago when I was still one of the tallest members of the Mosher family. I had a three year old, a two year old, and an infant then. Even though the day I’m remembering was around the first day of summer, this day was one of the darkest of my life. (My story isn’t all sad though, so keep reading til the end.)
That day, I was returning from my parents’ house. My newborn and I had spent the weekend there because it was time to say forever goodbye to my Dad. His body, not quite old, was surrendering to the melanoma he’d been fighting for years. I was weary from the waiting that weekend while we hoped for a miracle. This parting couldn’t possibly be happening already! I felt too young to say goodbye to my Dad, to the Grandpa my children wouldn’t really ever know. It happened though. God gave me the treasure of seeing and hearing my Dad’s final two breaths just after midnight, as Father’s Day came to a close. I wonder if Dad heard the last anguished “I love you”s from my brothers and sisters and Mom and I as he left us. The words of the Doxology took on new meaning, as did thoughts of an eternal Father.
The next morning, I carried home the burden of grief in my heart and my infant son in my arms. He doesn’t remember that goodbye weekend he’d spent with me or the Grandpa whose name he shares. But I’ve told him the rest of the story and all the wonders God orchestrated for our family so kindly in ways that turned our eyes from the darkness to Him. I’d tell you all of the amazing things that happened over the weekend my Dad died, but this is the Friday letter and not the Friday book, so today I’ll just share one highlight.
Something glorious greeted me when I got home that morning. The entire flower garden in front of our house, still green the last I looked, was wondrously in bloom. While I was away watching a dear life end, every flower in my front yard had been busy opening, preparing to greet me with beauty as I came from the dark. The sunny petals silently shouted new life, assuring me of the eternal Father’s love and care.
So you see, it’s not a sad story after all. It was a mighty act, and I thank God for opening my eyes to it and letting me tell it to the next generation.
May God give you eyes to find highlights—even in the dark.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash