Redeeming Love

Today's post bears no pictures ... but certainly words spoken straight from my heart.

Today I took an early morning flight into my birth city, Johannesburg. It was such a wonderful feeling to see the familiar sights after a long year away from where I grew up as a child. Most of my family still lives here which is why I love to keep coming back as often as possible. This visit is different from any other visit I have ever come home for. This visit holds certain painful goodbyes for me ... but because God is who He is ... LOVE incarnate ... it has also unfolded some incredible new beginnings and loved expressed in rich and healing ways.

I don't remember having felt so many different contrasting emotions all bundled into one day. Today I looked into the eyes of a mother figure who has always been a part of my life and realized that my time with her is short and so very precious. My amazing God helped me to see past the pain of seeing her body so wasted away and to look into her heart and realize that she is still the same precious woman I have always known and loved. It is a privilege to be with those you love and see the Lord preparing them for their graduation. He is so  gentle and gracious. He gives to us the time that we need when we look to Him in trust. All He does is covered in purpose and love. Today I witnessed the extents to which He will go to bring a person peace of heart. I stand in awe of a God who cares so deeply about the condition of each of our hearts.

Some things are too personal for me to blog ... and my heart is in a place of processing so many deep emotions. What I will share is that I have seen God take any opportunity that we give Him to bring peace and reconciliation in our relationships. I had the honor of watching another person that I love dearly risking their heart to be obedient to God's prompting to show mercy where it was not always deserved. I am humbled by this. To see a person walk in the freedom that comes from risking their heart to love is inspiring. Knowing how much He loves us compels us to love even those who have hurt us. As I watched this act of love - a reaching out - my heart was restored. Even in the process of releasing someone I love so dearly, God has shown me how He has added into my life those whom I can celebrate life with. 

On a lighter note, tomorrow I have to share some pictures of my sweet nieces that I am staying with. Oh my goodness ... what a sweet time being with these precious ones who I don't get to see nearly enough of. I promise to share pictures soon. 

With a heart fully spent I am getting ready to go to sleep now. As I do that I can truly say that I am so thankful for the precious family He has placed in my life ... those who have been there from my beginnings ... and those that He has graciously added into my life over these past few years. 

All my love xxx

Janine