Eyes of Heaven

I have seen glimpses of Jesus in other’s faces, heard angels singing in other’s voices and a nurse named Ava Maria once tended to my brother. All touches of heaven, but face to face? That had escaped me until today.

The morning was spent celebrating a milestone of a life in ministry, yet in the midst of tearful stories and notes of appreciation, I found myself somewhat convicted of how my energy had been spent, talents on the sidelines and time wasted. Along with cookies and punch, there was a bitter pill to swallow.

Continuing to lunch, we were attended to by a young lady with soft eyes and a gentle smile, whose name tag read “Heaven.” I asked if that was truly her name wondering if it was pronounced differently. I said I had met “Angels” and “Jesus-es,” but “Heaven” was a first for me, what a beautiful name. However, I realized I had met heaven before, just not face to face.

My mother recently passed into the “real Heaven” and I was inundated with stories of how she touched lives in just being Joyce (or Re-Joyce as she would say). I have received words of gratitude for a song or a story that tugged at heartstrings and undeserving credit for imparting wisdom granted to me by God, and a life spent struggling to pursue His will for me and His will for others through me.

It would take more than fingers and toes to count the times I have missed a calling and thanks be to God, He forgives my sins and remembers them no more.

“No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord . “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

The first step in overcoming your failings is to acknowledge they exist. While being dragged by those of my own, a glimpse into the eyes of heaven showed that there have been many steps forward as well as backwards. The difference is how I direct my focus; even more so when I stumble. I choose to look ahead toward the path God has laid before me and pray there are less missteps than those on solid ground, to see the eyes of heaven once again.

Be Blessed

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