Under His Wings: Twirling

Under His Wings: Twirling

Twirling

"That you in the photograph? What are you doing?"

"Twirling.

My mother and I used to twirl."

I loved this line in the movie "You've got Mail". 

One of my earliest memories as a child is dancing and twirling to “Waltz of the Flowers” from the Nutcracker. I hadn't even seen the Nutcracker, but I knew the melody was meant to dance to. 

What is it about twirling that is so enticing? I suppose it is the same feeling one gets when they imagine they can fly. It is the feeling of FREEDOM!

Are we, as very young children, already feeling the restraints of an earthly form? Did we at one time, before we were born, have the freedom of angels unbound by earthly burdens to soar, and dance around the universe?

Another thing about twirling is that it also evoked giggling. You could NOT twirl and NOT giggle. This was true, especially if you were twirling with friends, sisters or cousins. For me, it was usually it was the latter two. They were my first friends in life.

It is a shame, that as adults we most often stop twirling. I have made a promise to myself to twirl and even giggle more often. I don’t think it’s too late. I hope that it isn't.

I imagine in heaven it will be my most favorite thing to do. That and dancing, and singing, and…well. They’ll all be favorites there won’t they?

What do I know of Faith, Hope, or Love?  In myself I know nothing.  These three are gifts, imparted to us over a lifetime.  They are used in our life experiences and powered by our relationship with our Creator. Our gifts are unique to our circumstances, and yet they are similar in the way they will, or will not, shape our lives. The choice is ours.  We usually do not use these gifts, unless we are met with disagreeable situations in which they are needed.  Faith, Hope, and Love are tools we can use to get us through the hard-hitting events in our lives, and by their use, they become a measure of who we become as a result of their application.  We cannot make use of these gifts within ourselves alone.  They only function by the power of God who offers them to us. 

Some time ago in the midst of a crisis, I fell before the Lord in desperation searching for answers to my inability to trust God and have faith.  He spoke to my heart a basic principal that had at the time had been guiding my life.  The Lord said; "You do not trust me because you do not truly believe that I love you.  When you accept that I love you beyond all you think that you know of love, then you will be able to trust me."

I asked the Lord, "How can I know that you love me?"

"Believe my Word.  Believe who the Word says that I am"  

The first thing that came to mind was "God is Love"...and the little song I use to sing as a child.

              

              “Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children

              God is Love, God is Love"

I cannot explain how profound the reality of God's Love swept over me at that moment.  I finally grasped the root of my unbelief and my lack of trust.  I had not fully grasped the concept of God's unwavering, and unconditional love.  

I don't know why I have suffered the things I have suffered.  Some difficulties have been a result of my own poor choices in life, and some were inflicted upon me just because "life happens".  The source of the suffering is not what is important, but it is our relationship to God the Father in the midst of our sorrow that weighs in eternally.