Chasing Seagulls

     We took a mid-February trip to the beach a few weeks back when we enjoyed a lovely winter thaw. We all had an adventure and soaked up as much vitamin D as we needed to make it through the last bit of winter.
 
     One of my favorite memories of the trip is little Genevieve chasing after the Seagulls. 
 
     She's at that sweet stage where her understanding of animals comes from storybooks. So animals are fuzzy, touchable, and sometimes talk. When she saw the seagulls, she was filled with delight. 
 
    "Quack quack, come here!" She yelled. 
 
     With no response, so she decided to get closer. But the seagulls took off. 
 

     "Quack quack, I love you!" She yelled, hoping they'd change their mind and come back.
 
     We all let out a giant belly laugh, and continued to assist her in her effort of convincing the gulls to return by calling, "Quack quacks, we love you, come back!!"

     Weeks later, we're still talking about it and laughing.
 
     When stories like this linger in our hearts and lips, I start to wonder if there's a deeper meaning for that moment, and I felt like, for me there was.
 
      God put on my heart that I was doing the same thing as Genevieve. Instead of gulls, I was chasing after my dreams, but with a heart burdened by disappointment. I’d start to get close, only to scare them off by my own heavy heart.
 
     Disappointment is part of human life. People disappoint us, circumstances disappoint us, and life can down right disappoint us. But the key to not thudding through life, scaring away all of the seagulls, is walking in the Spirit, not the flesh. Our flesh may be burdened, but as our spirits seek God, they’re renewed each day. And gradually, oh so gradually, the disappointments fade and the heavenly joy from our Spirit washes away the stains.
 
Have a happy weekend, with a light heart!
Blessings,
Alex
 
 
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