A Single Suitcase

What is it about a single suitcase that makes you feel lonely? For the past four months, I have
lived more of a suitcase than not. Thephone would ring and I would go. So much happened during those long hours I drove back and forth. So many things happened during the time I spent there. Before I finish packing, I could feel God nudging me toward my computer. He wanted me show me something. As my fingers skipped across the keys, I knew God had something to show me. Feelings of peace and quiet settled over me. It was time for an assessment.

So, tentatively I opened my heart and looked inside. My (false) heart me told that there is simply no room for anything else! Enough is enough! But, my (where God lives) heart told me there is always room to grow and to give. Know that God would protect me, I opened my heart…and looked inside.
My!!! Look at the shelves of boxes in here! Most are clearly marked and dated. Oh my, that is an old one there! And right beside it is a new one. An organized person would look at this heart and say, “My goodness, girl! This is a mess!” But, I don’t see a mess…I see my life…
There is fresh tape on an old box. Wow, I must have visited that box a lot. As I lift off the tape to peek inside, a smile flashes across my face. It is my memory box. Wow, it is bulging with pictures, momentos, scrapes of paper…each one bearing a tag, “To Keep.” Right near the top is a
diary. My hands are trembling as I turn the cover and look inside. There, in my own handwriting are moments in time that I wanted to remember. It looks as though the ink is still fresh on
this entry, “Time with Papa Jack.” My eyes become blurry as I attempt to read the entries. Eyes are leaking as I pour over the God-given moments with Papa Jack! Wow, what precious time God gave me with this man I grew to love.
Seeing that the diary is indexed, I quickly move to the next section marked, ”Mother.” Laughter
bubbled up as I read the entries, one by one. God had given my mom and me so really fun and lasting memories. How long I stood in that chamber reading the entries, one by one, I do not know. Good thing I had tissue in my pocket! What I realized was that I had been blessed
mightily by God. What a great life I have had. It has been the best kind of adventure. Yes, there have been scary parts, funny parts, sad parts and hilarious parts! In my hands held memories that had been tenderly journaled in my heart. Just I as I turning to leave, my eyes suddenly caught a tapestry hanging near the back. Gently I made my way to the back and beheld something that only God could do. There before me were faces of people who, at some point, were in my life. It was the most intricate piece of work I have ever seen. It held every moment of my life – good and bad. There was no way that I could avoid touching it. I reached out and touched the fabric…so delicate…finely woven but containing great strength. My eyes moved from top to bottom…it was then that I noticed threads blowing gently. It was unfinished.
There at the bottom of the tapestry woven in was another suitcase. I was going on, yet another
adventure. What lies ahead, I do not know, but this I do know…God’s hands are holding every thread of my life. Every thread is being intricately woven in to a beautiful design by the Master designer.
Packing a suitcase will never be the same again. This time, I am excited…what is it that God
has planned? I don’t know. I just know that His Word promises great plans…plans
to prosper and not to harm me. (Jeremiah 29:11). I know that God sings over me (Zephaniah 3:17). I know that God is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24). I know that God will never leave me (John 14:18). I know that God will give me strength to climb whatever obstacle is placed in my path (Habakkuk 3:19) I know that God is totally aware of my circumstances and is never away
from me (Psalm 139).