“Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch” ~ Judy Blume

When the pandemic first began all of my kids, and grandkids came to stay with me for 2 1/2 weeks.  It was crowded, loud, and sometimes chaotic with 13 people under one roof.  Every day was filled with home school activities, swimming, walks, games, food, fun, and even melt-downs (mostly from tired kids, but sometimes tired parents trying to home-school).  While the chaos was going on, many times I longed for a little solitude and quiet.  After they all left, and the house returned to its normal state of order and quiet, I began to find treasures over looked at the time.  A bubble wand that had slid down between the couch cushions brought back memories of giggles and smiles as bubbles filled the backyard, and two little girls tried to catch them.  Piles of sand in the back seat, and on the floor of my car reminded me of having the car packed from floor to roof with shovels, beach toys, chairs, and lazy days of sunning, sandcastles, and fun!  Bright colored sidewalk chalk drawings in my driveway reminded me of the innocence and creativity of 7 children just trying to find ways to pass the time.  Forgotten toys were put away, cars were cleaned, and the rain washed the artwork away, but the thing I found the hardest to wipe away were the fingerprints left on my sliding glass doors.  As much as I like clean windows and doors, as much as we cleaned and told them to keep their hands off the doors, each fingerprint was a personal reminder of that person whom I loved dearly.  The fingerprints were proof that they were here with me, they touched my life, and they loved me even though I physically couldn’t see them now.

Some times in the midst of grief, loneliness, and heartbreak it’s easy to think “Where is God?, Why doesn’t He help me?, Will this pain last forever?, and How could anything good ever come from this?”  Then, when you look closer you notice God’s fingerprints: A new friend brought along just when you thought you couldn’t take another day alone;  Strength gained that you didn’t even know you had lacked before; Peace and resolve in situations that just a few years ago would have sent you reeling; and Many days, though different from before, filled with a new joy, laughter, and love!  Our view is always so much clearer when we look back then when we are looking forward.  But . . . as you look back you can clearly see God’s fingerprints all over your life!  He was there when you thought you were all alone.  He was there, nudging people to be His love for you with skin on.  He was there infusing you with His strength, peace, and joy that surpassed all understanding to others looking on.  He was there, and He’s still there at this very moment no matter how dark it may seem whether you see Him or not.

One thing I am learning time and time again over these past 18 months since Joe’s death is what the Bible calls “strengthening yourself in the Lord”.  In 1 Samuel chapter 30, David who was anointed to be King over Israel, but still hadn’t seen any proof of that promise, was joined with Israel’s enemy while on the run from King Saul (whom David would later replace as King).  When David and his men returned to where their families were, they found it burned to the ground. All of their wives and children were taken by the enemy, and all of their possessions had been completely destroyed.  It says David and his men wept until they couldn’t weep anymore (been there, done that many times).  Then, to add insult to injury, David’s faithful men turned on him, and threatened to stone him to death (it’s so easy to resort to blaming someone for our pain, because hurting people hurt people).  I love what it says next, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” 1Samuel 30:6b. David had lost everything including his strength. He didn’t even have the strength to cry anymore ~remember it said he had wept until he couldn’t weep anymore.  There comes a time in everyone’s life when you think “I just don’t have the strength to go on”.  BUT . . . I can imagine David closing his eyes and searching for God’s fingerprints in his life.  The time as a young shepherd boy when God strengthened him to protect his sheep from lions and bears with his staff.  The time God infused him with his power, and courage to take a sling shot and 5 stones and kill the Giant Goliath when an entire army was too petrified to fight him.  The times God loved him through his friend Jonathon who encouraged, and protected David many times from Saul.  The times God had equipped him to conquer tens of thousands of enemies.  The many times God gave wise insight, and divine comfort to David as a lonely shepherd boy, which is recorded in Psalm.  Yes, these were just a few of the fingerprints of God all over David’s life!  And when you see His fingerprints, it is a reminder and proof that God was there with you, He touched you, He loved you even if you can’t see Him now!

It is nearly impossible to see the fingerprints in the dark, they only show up in the light.  So, when the darkness looms, the world feels like it is closing in, close your eyes and seek His light.  John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  You will find proof He was there in your darkest moments, and one day when you look back on this moment in time, you will see He is with you right now.  He said “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5