Lifted

"First Step" is the title of this water color, painted by Deborah Robinson in 1995.  It is one in a series of the seven ethnicities of the Hawaiian Islands, originally commissioned for the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, from which copies were also purchased by a cruise line.  Elias and I had the privilege of representing the Caucasian ethnicity, interesting, since eventually our family would become its own diverse representation of the celebration of God's rainbow of children.

This morning as the sun shone into our bedroom I noticed something I've never seen before, in all these years.  Elias' little foot is lifted, and a white space exists between his heel and his shadow.  Isn't it fascinating how significant details often go unrecognized until the timing of a unique life event opens our eyes to them?

On Easter Sunday, one of our precious little sons, surrendered his life to Jesus.  He has known and loved God for as long as we can remember, but Sunday he realized it was his decision to ask the Lord for forgiveness and to take charge of his heart.  In humility and with joy he did this!  It is like his first step in his individual journey of walking with God, trusting Him to guide his life.  We asked him how he felt as we embraced him.  Smiling widely, he answered, "Lifted!"