I love it when I click on Facebook and there is a smiling picture of a family member! Today it was my six-year-old granddaughter dressed up to go to work with her mom, plus a video of our youngest grandson chuckling in glee while his father pretended to sip from the straw in his son's cup. Hearing Isaac's warm, distinctive laugh made me laugh with glee myself!
Lately there have been shots of our older teen grands racing in the sand in lifeguard competition, paddling atop a surfboard, and walking through tree-tops on cable bridges. Then there are the ones of grown-up grands: lawn chairs set up and blankets spread for drive-in movie-watching with their own little ones, my great-grands, nibbling on pizza!
A gorgeous engagement photo announcement with our oldest grandson and his fiancee' brought smiles. So did the romantic photo of the recent new bride and groom, grandson Zach whispering into Kelcie's ear in the idyllic setting of their outdoor wedding.
A picture of my son's feet and legs as he stretched out on a deck chair with the serene waters of the Gulf of Mexico beyond the railing, and his travel guitar on his lap told me he and his family were aboard their cruise ship. I'm waiting for more travel shots as they reach their first excursion site.
Although these family members are far away, I still enjoy their good times vicariously and share their joy as captured by the camera. Sometimes I wish there were a camera in heaven to see our loved ones there and all the good things they are seeing and experiencing. I know it is a place of indescribable beauty that no scenic spot on earth can rival.
As beautiful as the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are, the beauty of the waters of the river of life will exceed them. The lush foliage of the tall tree-tops explored by our 16-year-old granddaughter will pale in comparison with the tree of life and other verdant vegetation there.
There will be no need for lifeguards there, no need to practice CPR, for Jesus will be the air we breathe, and the breath of life He gives when we accept Him is eternal. And the music there will be sweeter even than the melodious notes emitting from Trevor's travel guitar. No shipping necessary, the heavenly harps and celestial music of angels will be there waiting for us.
The sweet fellowship of families eating pizza together on a blanket as they watch a fantasy on the silver screen in the twilight will be out-shined by God's children dining with Jesus at the Marriage supper of the Lamb. There will be no straws in paper cups, but our Father will sup with us in royal goblets.
And we know that earthly brides and grooms are only a picture of Christ and His bride--the church! "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church," Ephesians 5:31-32.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it," Ephesians 5:25.
Not a vision, not a picture, but the reality of heaven feels just around the corner!
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