You have turned my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with a garment of joy. —Psalm 30:11 (ISV)
It was a sign from God. Not a burning bush, a rainbow, or a plague of frogs, but a wooden sign tucked in the corner of a folksy gift shop in Bluffton, South Carolina. Bold white letters on a black background proclaimed this: Welcome to Awesomeville! Population: Me.
Yep. The sign stopped me in my tracks. After thirty-three years of marriage, my husband had left . . . suddenly, unexpectedly, and permanently. Newly single, I felt like an awkward adolescent, unsure of what to do with my life. But I wasn’t sixteen. I was almost sixty. And I had a choice. I could choose bitterness, anger, and fear as my new companions. Or I could embrace forgiveness, hope, and joy. I could choose to exist in Woe-Is-Me Town or thrive in Awesomeville. I knew where I wanted to reside.
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I brought my sign from God home to my new little apartment. It still hangs right by my front door. It’s a daily reminder that my circumstances don’t have the final say in what my life looks like. My attitude, choices, and faith (or lack thereof) set the tone each day. That doesn’t mean my residence in Awesomeville is painless. Plenty of days my heart still aches, and tears seem to come out of nowhere. But I don’t have to live in a permanent state of bliss to continue to love life.
Life can be hard, but nurturing a relationship with God doesn’t have to be. I may be by myself, but as God reminds me daily, I’m never alone.
Dear Lord, open my eyes to the beauty and blessing of each new day, even the tough ones. Draw near to me in a way that makes Your presence more tangible in my life.
