I had this moment today.
Ian and I were driving over my favorite picture perfect Florida lake.
Palm trees around the shore, slight chop to the water, alligator eyes popping about.
I voiced what I was thinking...
"This is the last time, ever, we'll get to drive over Lake Jessup!"
and then I had a little cry out to God...
"God, I LOVE Florida. I love it, I love it, I love it. Your creation is so beautiful! I don't want to leave here!"
and, lighter than the breeze rippling through the cattails, I heard God saying,
"Yes, but do you love Me more?"
I wanted to be able to answer with a resounding "Yes, Lord!" but my human self came up with only snarky answers.
"Of course."
"Why do you think we're moving to the desert, to live amongst a people that confine and restrict how the women act? To a people who speak a strange language, who have odd customs, and eat weird food?"
And all of a sudden, it was simple again.
I heard the question.
"Yes, but do you love Me?"
It needed no explanation, no justification, no reasoning, no excuses.
It called for an answer.
It called for a response.
Really, it called for action.
And what we do with our lives really is a response to that question, isn't it?
So, tomorrow Ian and I will drive out of our home state one last time {for awhile anyways} and say goodbye to the sunshine, warmth, and love that has been our home for a long time.
Goodbye Sunshine State!
Goodbye Family!
Goodbye Friends!
I'm moving on, to another place, to show God's love, to a different race!