The Blessings of our Little Piece of Paradise

We just got home from vacation from where we love to call "Our little piece of Paradise". We spend a week every year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and we absolutely, completely, and thoroughly enjoy ourselves. My husband doesn't get a lot of time away from work and completely relaxing for him just doesn't seem to happen very often....but when we go to Cabo....it is a different story! Is it the incredible awe inspiring beauty? Is it the great food? Is it the kind hearted people who live there? Is it simply spending a significant amount of quality time together? Honestly, I think it is a combination of all the above!

I am pretty sure one of the reasons I love this place so much is that for me, every direction I look, I see the beauty that can come from Christ alone. He is so glorified and exemplified in the incredible beauty of the sea and the rock formations. I have taken at least 500 pictures over the years of the same arch and the same mountains and the same beaches and sunsets…but every time I see them again I cannot stop myself from snapping shot after shot because it is just so breathtakingly beautiful. How God managed to blend all the colors so perfectly and mold the rocks just right and create a sea that is sometimes so innocent and still and at other times so ferocious and wild, leaves me awestruck. Then I can add the beautiful sea life of sea lions, whales, dolphins, stingrays, pelicans, and a multitude of beautiful fish…and again I am left amazed.

Psalm 95:3-5 (NLT)
3 For the Lord is a great God,

a great King above all gods.

4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth

and the mightiest mountains.

5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it.

His hands formed the dry land, too.

And then I go beyond the beauty of the land. I go to where I see people…people that in one moment are capable of putting my perspectives on life and happiness right back in order. I know that right now we hear all over the media about the violence in Mexico. I know that there are lost souls and that there is corruption, but I also know about the good…the very very good. Because I speak Spanish, I have been blessed with the opportunity to talk with the many people who live and work and have families in Cabo San Lucas. I have learned about people who have nothing but are willing to offer you something. They have a joy in their hearts that doesn’t come from anything worldly. They work hard day after day…they try to sell their goods to tourist after tourist (and many not so nice tourists)…all to try to put a meager meal on the table for their family. I would like to say I could work so hard for so little and still be filled with joy and not anger…but I do not know if I could. The media and the scare of violence and swine flu nearly wiped out their only industry…but many still love to chat with me and share their life stories and learn about mine. This is where I see God. Right there in the hearts of these people. Think about it. Really. What kind of person would you be in their circumstances…at earning a minimum wage of 52.59 pesos (about $4.00) per DAY?!! That’s right….per DAY!!!!

2 Corinthians 4:6 (TNIV)For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

We had the wonderful opportunity to visit and spend an afternoon at Casa Hogar during this trip. Casa Hogar is an orphanage that is home to 22 boys ages 6-14. It is an orphanage that opened about 18 months ago and is really trying hard to be a blessing for these children. Did I see God while we were there? Yes! We saw people with hearts filled with compassion for these children who are working and dedicating their lives to try to make the lives of the children a little bit better. We saw young boys who have lived through more sadness than some of us ever will, but their smiles and the sparkle in their eyes says that there is a God and that there is hope wherever He is. The orphanage is wonderful, but it doesn’t have a lot and is in need of much. In case you are interested, here is their website. http://www.casahogarcsl.org/i/69/home.html

Isaiah 1:17 (NLT)Learn to do good.Seek justice. Help the oppressed.Defend the cause of orphans.Fight for the rights of widows.

And then I come to my own little family. Do I see God through them? Most definitely! When I see my boys running, laughing, and playing with complete abandon, my heart is so moved. Their laughter and smiles shines the light of Christ around them so brightly that it is impossible to not notice! They are absolute miracles….a gift from Heaven above.

Psalm 127:3 (NLT) 3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

And finally, where do I see God? I see Him at work strengthening my marriage to my wonderful husband. We are given the time to step away from the everyday responsibilities that so often keep us away from each other and from spending quality time together. We are given that time to remember how much we enjoy each other…time to find a few stolen moments for romance…and time to simply just “be”.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 (AMP) 9Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun--all the days of futility. For that is your portion in this life and in your work at which you toil under the sun.

All in all? Blessed beyond words and so very very thankful.