“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” Proverbs 1:8-9
I think about Heaven all the time. I dream about it and let my heart wander to that unknowable realm more than I could tell you. It’s incredible how just a thought about where Jesus is seated right now with the Father can change your entire outlook on wherever you find yourself. And it’s especially useful when you have to be places you wish you weren’t.
After years of being consumed with Heaven, I see it all the time now. Many years ago, I started capturing photos whenever I knew Heaven was being released around me and I’ve printed them off and put them in a safe place for my children to find someday. Some of them I knew exactly what they meant and could tie them right to a Scripture. Others, I prayed about and searched God’s heart for His revelation on what they could mean. And a handful of others, I’ll wait to talk about with Him face to face in glory.
But the one I’m sharing with you now is so precious to my heart. Sunday morning, my parents sat in front of us at church and I opened my eyes during worship to this sight that truly took my breath away. It’s actually how I knew they’d be postured during worship, but the Heaven that was flowing out around them completely swept me away. This is how they’ll be forever at the feet of the Lamb in Heaven. This is what the Psalm of their lives looks like in the natural, but it sings a sweeter tune in the Heavens. There was a mist coming from their spirits, the dew of Heaven, that dampened the air with the majestic love of Jesus and their praise was something I could reach out and hold.
Individually and together, they’ve taught me so much about the things that really matter in life. But no greater lessons have they shown me than this - how to worship and live totally abandoned for Christ. They find the Holy Spirit afresh every day and give Him permission to take over their every moment. And they are so generous to share with whoever will listen the profound insights and deepest whispers the Lord has spoken to them. They have answered the call to be mothers and fathers beyond the family tree and you’ll find their roots interwoven in so many places in the earth. I know when God sees them, He finds their hands holding many hearts of the children He has sent their way. I believe there are moments when God really does grace our heads with garlands of our fathers and adorn our necks with the chains of our mothers … for His instruction and teaching through them are the crowns and jewels we’ll give back to Him in the place He has prepared for us.
My prayer is that you see Heaven everywhere all the time and when you do, you tell everyone around you. I hope you become the divine translator that unfolds heavenly truths for those God has brought near to you. May you be trusted to open the eyes and ears of the world, so that sights like this one elevate your soul and bring you to your knees. And may you live in awe and wonder that God’s Kingdom is here and now and forevermore will be.
Comments