In His Presence
Dear Mom and Dad,
Today is a pretty special day. I'm standing with and in front of some amazing women who felt called to spend their day with Jesus. There's no way I ever could have imagined a day like this could or would be possible were it not for God and Him slowly revealing Himself to me in little ways over the past five plus years. Actually, He was doing it well before I even realized it but I'll save that for another time.
I had this idea (or at least what I thought was my idea) over five years ago to put on a women's retreat. I was inspired by some amazing women of faith whom I stumbled upon first at Prince of Peace as a lonely stay at home mom who was desperate for friends and in the throes of motherhood just like I was. Since I didn't have you guys to talk to or get advice from, I felt like I just needed to know I wasn't alone. From there I was introduced to some amazing women who have taught me a lot about what it means to form a relationship with God that's different.
These women who I now call friends are ones I’ve found in some of the most unlikely of places. Some of them are actually here with me today, which makes it extra special. But getting to today hasn’t been easy. We have run into so many obstacles along the way just to make this day a reality. I have had to surrender so much to Him, as I imagine you did before you both passed. I never realized how easily and quickly He shows up if we just allow Him into our hearts. And why wouldn't we want Him to show up for us?
He has shown me through how this entire day has come together that not only does He want to show up, but also that He will show up. He has shown up in the big and the small; in the joy and the pain. He showed up.
I wonder what it was like for you both when you were welcomed into His eternal kingdom. I know there's no way of knowing when you arrived. Whether or not you fully went through purification while still here on earth or spent a bit more time. But either way, I believe you are with Him now.
What is it like to be with him? To experience that sort of joy ? Is it what you thought it would be or more? What is it like to be in His presence every second of every day? I often forget that we can be in his presence while still here on earth. We just have to seek Him. Sometimes we need to come to Him, as His children and place ourselves in His presence in order to allow Him to be the father He longs and yearns to be for us. Sometimes we have to put ourselves directly in His presence.
Mom and Dad, I pray every woman with me today gets to experience the love and joy and peace and comfort that can only come for us when we are in his presence. I love you both so much and wish you were here physically sitting with me today, mom. But that wasn't part of His plan so I will remain in His presence to ensure I see you and dad again in Heaven.
I love you both. Until we meet again, God bless.
Love, Jenni
