The Beach - Our God is Amazing!

I moved to Florida from Texas about 14 years ago. Thinking back, I remember that after I moved here, one of the things that made me stay was the beach.

When my son was young, we spent countless weekends body surfing and jumping waves, building sandcastles and looking for shells. As he got older, the trips became few and far between, he mostly went with his cousins to go surf now and then, and I went on my lunch hour to have a little quiet time and contemplate and be reminded of how Great our God is. As life progresses and my days are filled with the things that need doing, I realized that I had not been to the beach in 3 years, not our beach that is.

Now, understand me, I have no desire to be a sun "junky", I do not want to have skin cancer, nor do I want to look like a leather handbag when I get older. I just really like the beach, there is something so amazing about looking out at the ocean and the vast sand and knowing that our great God created it all with his hand.

I began to miss the smell, the breeze and the sound of the waves. So I decided that I would plan a trip to the beach. Today I packed my swimsuit, sunblock and a beach blanket. After I left the gym, I headed East for the entire 12 minutes that it takes (and I haven't gone in 3 years???).

This really is the perfect time for a visit; school is in, the tourists have gone home, the 9-5ers are still at work, and the beach is just as I like it...quiet and calm.

I spent about an hour just enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of the beach. There were only a handful of people there. No radios, no loud teenagers, no obnoxious drunks, no beach bunnies, just a few small family groups and some individuals soaking in the sun. I sat there watching the waves and loving the sound of them rolling down the coastline - God in his greatness created them to make just that specific sound. I enjoyed hearing some distant screeches and giggles from young girls playing in the surf - sweet laughter that our God was so gracious to gift us with. I watched birds running through the surf snatching little critters out of the sand - His beautiful creation. The salty sweet smell of the ocean is unique and I know that God made it's delicate balance to hold sealife.

Then a storm began to roll in from behind me, the sky was beautiful. Brightest blue ahead of me, dotted with puffy white clouds, then as I looked to my left and behind, the deep gray blue was rolling in and distant thunder rolled through the clouds - how fantastic and awsome our God is. Then I knew it was time to head home (you don't hang out on the beach when there is thunder...). It was a nice break from the routine of my day and a breath of fresh air - Florida really is a pretty place to live, and I am thankful that God created this little piece of land sticking out into the ocean. I am thankful that He moved me here and I am thankful that I can see His handiwork in all that He has made.

Have a blessed day!