Some days you feed your soul, and that’s what I did today. I had a huge to-do list, but my soul needed tending to first.

I drove past the home where I grew up. It was sold to take care of Mom’s expenses while she lived in memory care. I smiled as I noticed the property is still well-cared for. Some of my mom’s flowers and plants have matured now. They are filling out areas in front of the porch with little yellow blooms. She would be so happy with that. I glanced at the front porch where my parents often sat on their glider (my dad with his red ball cap on). After he and mom were more homebound, they awaited visitors day after day in that same spot. (I still sit on that glider, which is now on my front porch, and treasure the memories of precious conversations with them.)

I drove through the town and down the street where I walked miles on the walking path. I recalled how we were so easily discarded and hated after a traumatic, heart-shattering tragedy. I remembered it was then when I first realized fully that “perception isn’t necessarily truth.” I reflected on how God used even that tragedy for his glory. He pushed me into studying trauma so I could effectively minister to others on a similar path. I reminded myself that I need to be willing to allow him to use all things in my life for his glory.

Lastly, I stopped at the cemetery and watered flowers on my parents’ graves. As I looked out over all the gravesites, this Scripture came to mind: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves” (I Thessalonians 4:16). I panned that entire cemetery, and I thought, “What a sight it will be when Jesus comes for us!”

On my way out of the cemetery, the song, “Waymaker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper, Light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are,” played on my phone. Oh how true that is! I once again knew in my heart that death, tragedies, hatred, and sorrow are all because we live in a fallen world. They are from the enemy. Life, forgiveness, healing, joy, and love are from God. I returned full circle to understanding that God and my relationship with him are the only things that matter for eternity.

Some days you feed your soul, and that’s what I did today.