blast from the past

purple shoots, originally uploaded by jaki good.

today i received an email from an old friend.
i hadn't heard from her in many years.
things didn't end right - she was a faithful friend and i wasn't.
she was Christlike and selfless -
i was self-serving and broken.

the email brought immediate tears to my eyes.
she revealed she had been following my life through my online postings.
she related how she had been blessed through both my words and photos.

I feel overwhelmed with joy.
Her heart has looked beyond my mistakes in the same way God has.
Her response of grace points to my heavenly Father in such a powerful way.

In God's kingdom - there is no place for grudges...or regrets.

the reality of His kingdom is everywhere -
in the miracle of daffodil shoots pressing upwards through compacted sod
in the mystery of our eternal souls
in the mercy shown, grace extended from one who has experienced it herself.

My friend has not kept score.
She has given me a beautiful picture of God's wild love for me.


We never have to be stuck in the past...
We can venture on brand new paths..
we can dare to take the high road.