Say what??? Yes, it's true I did and it was incredible!! Let's go backward an hour or two... I was sitting in the Albuquerque airport waiting on my flight back to Houston. Our flight was delayed a few times and as we all know that means the terminal gets very full. I had seen this family walking around with a sweet little girl, about 12 I am guessing, and she had Down's Syndrome. She was dressed so super cute and obviously very excited about flying. As we boarded the plane she came on board ecstatic that we were "going up in the sky"!! She kept squealing and saying "I am so excited, I am so excited!!" I just giggled, because it was adorable! Her family kept trying to quiet her down and she was doing her very best to contain her excitement. The pilot and stewardess got the plane all geared up, did the pre-flight pep talks and we finally began to taxi over to take off. It's our turn, here we go, and lift off! She is so excited and she is telling her mom, "We are going up high!!!! We are going up high!!!" Then she no longer could contain her excitement and she said the most incredible thing "Mom, we are getting closer to Jesus!!! Look, we are getting closer to Jesus!!! We are up high closer to Jesus!! Look at the clouds!!! HI Jesus!! HI Jesus!!" She erupted with giggles and just continued overflowing with pure joy! It totally left me undone... I began to cry at the beauty I was seeing. I saw the purest face of true love for Jesus that I have ever seen in my life... and it melted me. She wasn't that excited because she was going to see Jesus but because she was getting closer to Him. I sat there with tears that insisted to keep falling and began to talk to God. "Father, I am certain that you share these tears of joy right now. Your heart must be overflowing at the praise and adoration that she is giving You! What a beautiful mirror image of your love is on her face right now!"
James 4:8a (AMP) "Come close to God and He will come close to you."
Deut. 4:29 (NIV) "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
"Lord, I have seen you in the face of this beautiful child. My heart has been broken for You, I long to be close to You. I know that if I seek after You, You in turn will run to me. Oh Father, let me seek You with the joy and eagerness I see in her. Let my heart yearn to be close to You, as she does."
Her family continued to quiet her excitement and I wanted to say, "Let her be. Let her get excited, let her joy become contagious." Of course I didn't, but I truly hope that others on that plane were moved by her the way I was. I pray that others on that plane "Saw Jesus on that plane"...
That's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThat is so precious and gave me goose bumps!! My desire is to everyday be closer to Him :-) if only we all had the sweet innocence of a child!!
ReplyDeleteOh Meredith, how you have blessed me this afternoon! I have always said that children with downs are special. The world says that medically there is something wrong. I experience every day, that God gave them an extra chromosome, an extra helping of Him!!! What a beautiful example for us through a wonderfully precious child. I will never take another plane ride and not think of this story. Thank you for sharing this gift!!! Love you glad you are home safely!!
ReplyDeleteMeredith, I may not be on a plane and think of your sweet message, but I will remember it whenever I see one of these beautiful, loving special children. Thank you for sharing it with your FB friends. Sharon Wilkins
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet. Everyone on that plane should have had tears running.
ReplyDeleteHis Mercy flows in the most beautiful ways, you have found a way to show others a stream….
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful, precious story. I love the filter through which you choose to view life and the things you see and experience. Much like that precious girl, you see your dear Father and His hand in everything around you. Thank you for sharing! I love you, my Mer! - Connie
ReplyDeleteLove moments like these. Thanks for sharing. We could all learn from that sweet little girl. Love this ;-) Love you.
ReplyDeleteWhat an article!!!!! You did a super job telling it. I felt like I had seen the little girl. That was beautiful. Love you and love your blogs. You are a good writer.
ReplyDeleteTears are flowing after reading this! What a beautiful thing that must have been to behold... God used her as an instrument for others to see the wonderful excitement that comes from being close to Jesus. Thanks for sharing such a touching story! AR
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