I was recently driving down a two lane road not far from my house. The sky was a vibrant blue and soft-fluffy-white-billowy-clouds filled in the space all around. The sun, and all it’s glory, was shining so brightly within as it peeked its way in between the clouds. Truly picturesque! And…it didn’t end there. Each side of this two lane road was filled with rows and rows of trees in beautiful colors of reds and oranges and yellows. Such a magnificent sight! It’s moments and images like these that you want to capture in your mind so you can pull them out on a rainy day. Pull them out when your heart needs to be filled with beauty and rays of sunshine.

In these moments, I breathed in all the goodness and all the beauty that surrounded me.  And for a split second all felt right in my world.  The sun did more than find its way into my car and bring me warmth. It found it’s way into my aching soul as well! Something I needed so desperately.

As I was driving it seemed as if this road would go on and on. No end in sight as I looked ahead. I began to think “what if this road would lead me straight to you”? I would drive for as long as it would take! Doesn’t matter how far or how many minutes, or hours, days, months or even years…I would drive and keep on driving until I would reach you, my baby girl. Ahhh….what if?? Just what if!!?

My mind shifted as I pondered the with the realization that there isn’t a single road that actually leads us to where we really want and need to go. The roads we travel on are simply avenues to get us to the temporary places we go and visit along the way in this life. Some bring us joy and some bring us heartache. These roads take us up mountains and along cliffs and overlook valleys and waves in the ocean. They are filled with bumps and curves. Filled with pot holes and road blocks and sometimes even dead ends. There is no such thing as a smooth, un-winding road. Life is hard even in spite of the rays of sunshine that can filter in from time to time.

My heart sank knowing I couldn’t just keep on driving down this two lane road. Eventually it would end. Eventually I would need to turn or stop. But why? Why does this road have to end and why can’t it just keep going? My ‘what if’ no longer existed. My glimmer of hope vanished. When your heart aches this badly, you want so desperately to make it stop. You need the pain and heavy fog to lift so the rays of sunshine can find their way into the depths of your bleeding soul and stay there. Then, when you realize it will never truly end, the hurt will never fade…you-fall-hard. That’s what it felt like in that moment when my ‘what if’ disappeared and reality came crashing in.

But then, Truth crept it’s way into my aching heart and filled me with a different hope. A real hope!  I AM on the right road! I am on the road that will someday take me home and take me straight into the arms of Jesus! This road leads me to all that is good, all that is beautiful, all that He has promised….and it leads me to my sweet baby girl.

The roads of this life may be filled with curves and potholes and even dead ends. But we can rejoice knowing that it’s all temporary and these roads, ‘the road,’ we’re on will end. All the hurt, all the pain, the worry and fear will end along with it.

So for now I will hold onto the rays of sunshine that find their way into my heart. My hope is they will come more frequently and last a little longer each time. I will continue to go down these roads to life’s temporary places and make my way around the bumps and curves. Holding on even if it means I need to close my eyes from time to time, or wipe the tears that fall down my cheeks. There is purpose in this life and on these roads. A greater purpose than we are capable of seeing with our human eyes. With each curve and pot hole there is joy and beauty to be found around each passing bend. And for the times I need a little help remembering there will be brighter days ahead…I will close my eyes and visualize the beauty that etched it’s why into my heart this day on that two lane road.

Precious Giver of Truth, Thank You for the hope that is found in knowing…that this life holds the roads to the temporary places and that You paved the way for the right road. The road that will lead straight to You. ~ Amen