A Splatter of Hope

OK.

So you won't even believe how awesome my Thanksgiving was. It was the best holiday ever in the universe. All of my family was together and no one was sick or absent, which was amazing and such a gift. We all just sat around talking about how much we loved each other and how sorry we were for all the hurt we have caused one another over the years, asking forgiveness and crying together. (All of this was unfolding by the fireplace, by the way, while delicious mugs of hot cocoa warmed our hands and Christmas music played softly in the background.)
We sat for a few moments, just marinating in the freedom of forgiveness and love. We laughed and cried and laughed some more. It was perfect.

We then put on a Swing Dance Christmas CD and danced the afternoon away while still laughing, of course, and having the time of our lives.

And then in a miraculous turn of events, it began to snow. As we all stood silently staring out at the beautiful white blanket beginning to cover the earth, we felt thankful and blessed.
And as it began to thicken, we couldn't resist the urge to bundle up and dive in... making fantastic snow angels together!
But as the afternoon crept on, the snow melted away and the sun popped out once again, warming our frozen fingers and toes, which were the blissful marks left on us from the making of the angels.

It was a heavenly day.

And as if that wasn't enough, I suddenly remembered that in the back of my van was a huge blank canvas and with it, every color paint you could imagine existed. So we all joined in together in grabbing huge fist fulls of paint and throwing it at the once blank wall. We smiled as we took in each moment of the picture appearing before our eyes (all of this happening in slow motion, of course). The picture of our family.... our history. A history of joy and sorrow. Of pain and love. Of hiding and running. Of sickness and health. Of love and redemption. It was glorious. Just wonderful.

And the painting is beautiful. It is everything we would be in heaven. It's every word spoken that is trapped in us by fear or shame or pride. It is every feeling expressed in perfect freedom. It is sadness that is allowed to be. It is love that's hard to express. It's every longing we've ever had our whole lives fulfilled.

And it hangs on the walls of my heart and my mind.
Like a giant picture of hope.
Hope is good.
I'm thankful for it.
I think it's what keeps me alive.


Well, that was it. The best Thanksgiving ever in the entire universe.
I told you you wouldn't believe me.

But regardless, I'm sooooooooo looking forward to Christmas!!!