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For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (TLB)

For I know the plans I have for you…..

My husband and I talked a lot about our future and our plans, and, yes, we daily sought God’s will for our future. The economy had taken a toll on our small business, and we did not know exactly what the future held. Even so, we were looking forward to “growing old” together – no matter what God had in store for us!

God had a plan that I had never even thought about for one minute – His plan was to suddenly take my husband “home” and leave me here, alone!! I could not understand how this could be for my good and certainly did not see a future and a hope.

Within three weeks of my husband’s death, I had sorted, sold, given away, and finally packed a small amount of our earthly possessions in preparation to move. As I sorted, I tried to keep things that were special to me and represented the 48 years we had together. Some dear friends from our church helped with this process.

After the funeral service, my daughter took the fresh flowers from the spray on my husband’s casket and hung them upside down in the garage. One of the last things I did before leaving our home was to take the then dried flowers and place them in a plastic box. The box traveled with me from Tennessee to Florida and back to Indiana over a period of 14 months and has now been in the garage for another year. Even with all of the travel and storage the dried flowers survived! I did not want to give them up, but was not sure what to do with them.

Then my friend and I happened into a small gift shop by mistake. As I was browsing, a small glass box caught my eye and I immediately thought about the dried flowers. It didn’t take long to purchase it and begin to think about how I could display them.

This glass box has special meaning for me, beginning with the original live flowers that were placed on my husband’s casket representing his life and the love I had for him. Even though the flowers have died, the butterfly on the glass represents new life or transformation. It has been said that “what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly”.

My husband’s life on this earth is over, but he is experiencing “new life” in heaven with our Savior! The butterfly is also a reminder to me of the new beginnings in my life as I progress in this new season.

And of course there was also my favorite color, purple (amethyst). There are many definitions associated with the purple or amethyst stone such as, royalty, peace, power, protection, wisdom and healing, however, the one definition that speaks to me says amethyst is closely linked to faith. The purple butterfly, the purple flowers, and even my purple insulin pump are daily reminders to me of the faith I have in my Lord and Savior who walks this journey with me every day!

Yes, I know God has a plan for me and tells me, “You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest”. (Jeremiah 29:13) Seeking does not always bring a “quick” fix but it causes me to realize I am part of a bigger story. One in which God resolves our disappointments in a way that exceeds our short sight. I have the glorious hope of not only seeing my Savior one day soon, but also seeing my beloved husband again!!

Thank You Lord, for the plans You have for me and each of my dear sisters. Help me to continue to seek You and press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen