“Even there, I played in Your presence and You filled my heart with joy.”- Cheryl Taul

When I was four years old my mother took me to a cemetery to visit a relative’s grave. That was the first time I saw a cemetery. Everything was beautiful. . .the soft-green grass that was laced with vibrant colors from flowers that I thought grew forever across this landscape, adding to it the warmth of that bright summer’s day. To me, everything that was beautiful would last forever and even the markers were placed there because someone very special owned a small part of it.

I stared up at the sky and realized for the first time what infinity looked like and what 'forever' felt like. I stood in awe of its expanse, when suddenly a breeze brushed across my face and I burst-out laughing and took off running barefoot across this ‘garden’. It wasn’t long before I realized that I ran too far from my mother and with just a glance of her presence in the distance, I easily found my way back and felt secure again.

It was here, in such a place as this that holds one of my fondest memory.

These past few days God has been calling me back once again to be the child He created me to be. That happy-go-lucky child that never paid attention to the earthly limitations that surrounded me, but instead looked toward Heaven at the endless possibilities. That same child that used to burst-out laughing from the soft-breeze of His touch across my face and with just a glance of His presence in the distance, I could find my way back and feel secure again.

“Father, fill my heart with the joy and laughter that used to be mine so long ago. Give me back that child-like faith where everything to me looked beautiful, and where everything beautiful meant. . .forever.” 

© Copyright Cheryl Taul
October 18, 2005
 

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. You show me the path of life.
In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:9 & 11