Dragonflies

Has God ever demonstrated His love to you so powerfully and intimately that it took your breath away? Have you ever felt Him so close that you were afraid to move or breathe? I have. It is the best feeling on earth!

One day, a few months back, I felt the need for some peaceful relaxation, some time to be alone with God and just focus on Him. So I went out on my front porch with some ice cream. I always enjoy that. I like to admire the feeling of stillness. It seems like life freezes for a moment and I can regather my frazzled spirit.

This time however, I wasn't finding peace. Part of me was relaxed, but deep inside I was still anxious, disturbed. I struggled with it, but it refused to budge. God, what is this? I cried. After a few moments of silence I gave up trying and sat in misery, trying to ignore this part of me in an uproar.

 I noticed some dragonflies flitting around. I like dragonflies. One landed relatively close to me. It'll probably fly off as soon as I move closer, I thought. Nevertheless I moved toward it. Just as I thought, the dragonfly instantly took to the air. However, my disappointment was shortlived. Instead of flying away, the dragonfly came and landed right in front of me. I caught my breath.

God, did you do that for me? Did You bring that little bug right to me? Somehow I knew He had! God, do You really love me that much? To do something so small, yet so personal? I stared at that dragonfly for a good while, enjoying the best feeling on earth.

"But as for me, the nearness of God is my good..." Psalm 73:28


   This reminds me of a similar occasion. A few months ago I was working hard on school. I was overwhelmed with tons of catch-up work. I stayed at home all day, every day, for weeks (I'm homeschooled), while my family went places without me. I burnt-out very quickly.

One day my brother had a baseball game in a town a few hours from our house. My family was going to make a day of it. I finally decided to let school go for one day and go along. It was spring, the first really warm day we'd had that year. I gave myself permission to forget about all my worries for one day and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

On the way home I was carefree. I felt as if I could float off the ground. I sang out of sheer need to let some of the joy out that was bubbling up in me.

 And then, just as I thought I could feel no happier, God did something amazing, outrageous! A black truck whizzed past me...and on the back window these words were plastered, "Jesus Loves You." Such a simple thing.

  I laughed in delight at those three simple words. I thought I would burst with joy. God had done that specifically for me!! He had planned the whole thing. Just think of all the things He had to get together for that truck to whiz past me just at that moment! How marvelous!

I never knew those three words, "Jesus Loves You," could mean so much. We throw that phrase out so carelessly sometimes, without stopping to really ponder the full weight of their meaning. This time it was different though; I knew that God was communicating to me in a special, personal way.  It was the best feeling on earth.