My own private concert!
“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Now that the month of June is almost over, it feels like we have settled into a summer routine. Because Lexi swims six days a week in the morning, I get up early with Binx for our morning walk. What I never realized until I started doing this was if I am out just before the sun breaks the horizon, the Cardinals have a concert! It seems they have center stage for about 10 to 15 minutes because I can never hear any other birds singing during this concert from the Cardinals. It is amazing and speaks to my heart whenever I hear it!
In case you did not know, I know the Cardinals song so well because Cardinals have become our sign that all is well with Zach. A few weeks after he left for Heaven, I was working through some of my intense grief by digging a garden in his memory. As I worked in it one evening, a vibrant red cardinal perched on a trellis in the garden and watched me intently for a number of minutes. It took my breath away as I knew it had to be sign sent to comfort and assure me that Zach was doing great and was still surrounding us with his love. Since that time Cardinals have shown up many times when my heart was desperate for assurance. I have watched them carefully and learned their song. They have become such a comfort to all of us.
I now see Cardinals everywhere - when I am driving, when I am out walking, a couple come to visit a bird feeder about everyday just outside my office window. I wonder - were they always there surrounding me with their assurance and I was just too busy or rushed to see them?
I have also noticed on the early morning walks how I am treated to the most amazing art work in the sky every morning as the sun rises. No two mornings patterns are the same and the colors that appear can be so deeply intense that I just have to stop and take it in for a few minutes. Again, I know the sun has always rose every morning since I have been on this earth, why is it I am just discovering the unique beauty our amazing Creator paints for us every morning now?
God is teaching me everyday how very present He is in my life. Whether it be through a comforting sign of the Cardinals He sends, the amazing beauty of each and every sun rise or the intricate details in the tiniest of flowers, God is the creator of it all! I am learning His presence has always surrounded me, but I have to be willing to see it to appreciate how much He loves me and each one of us. He had a plan with each and every creation on this earth and He has a plan for each and everyone of us! We have to be willing to quiet all the destractions the world throws at us to listen to Him speaking to our hearts so that we can discover all that He is giving us every day!
The book sales have been going amazingly well! I have been signing books everyday for many wonderful friends and family members. It has been a strange feeling to know many have climbed into my head and my heart and had a much more intimate look at the journey our family endured with Zach’s battle. I never know quite what to expect when I see someone who has read the book. I know it is a lot to absorb and digest - this was not an easy story for any of us to wrap our heads around. I still have trouble thinking it all actually happened.
Thank you to everyone who has read the book and shared their thoughts on what they read. I have to say I have shared some tears with more than one person as we talked things over about it. My hope is the book will teach a little, and mostly change hearts to know God is always ready and willing to carry us through any trial we might face. It is just up to us to let Him do this for us.
The Crossing Church (www.crossingonline.org for directions) has been kind enough to have the first official Unfinished Love book signing event!! It will be this weekend (June 28 & 29) before and after all of the services. The services are on Saturday at 5 pm and 7 pm and Sunday at 9 am and 11 am. Dirk, Lexi and I will be in the lobby at least 30 minutes before and after each service with a table full of books! After that, I will see how much inventory I have left before I set up another local signing in the Valrico area. If you would like to pick up a book before then please send me an email at sherry@sherrytucker.net and we can coordinate a time.
I will also have a book signing in Indiana on August 3rd in Spencer for those of you in that area. A family friend, Anita Kay, has a bookstore there and is making the arrangements for that event.
Until next time I am…
Living in His Presence,
Sherry
