he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:9-11). “Yes, baby. What would you wish for?”
“I’d wish that Jesus was down here on earth so that I could see him.”
“What would you say to him?”
“I’d tell him that I love him.”
“I think you just did.”
A deep conversation between mother and daughter, packed within a stop-light’s pause. A moment worthy of a pen and some scrap paper—actually the back of a large manila envelope containing, yet, another rejection notice from a publisher.
My mind really wasn’t on the road. It should have been, but my heart was otherwise inclined to its wandering. My trailing thoughts were interrupted by her words. They were words meant for my ears, for they scripted the similar penchant of my heart.
Words that spoke of wishing wells and pennies and a throw that just might bring a heart’s desire to fruition. Words of invitation, asking for the Father to reveal himself in the flesh.
Amelia wanted to see the Jesus that lives in her heart, for with the seeing, faith becomes a little more real. And this mother and her little girl are all about our Jesus being real to us.
Indeed…this was a penny’s worth of some sacred thinking. Hopes and dreams. Mine. Hers. Yours. And the dearest wish of those who stood in the presence of the risen Lord just moments prior to his departure.
I wonder how many wishing wells the disciples passed that day on their way back to Jerusalem. Back to their waiting for the promised gift of God’s Spirit. Back to their uncertainty. Back to life in their new usual, for their old usual had been interrupted by the unusual, unexplainable, and unimaginable presence of the Divine.
Life would never be as it once was. That is the way of a sacred journey that has encountered the truth of Jesus Christ. Truth transforms and transcends. He reveals and he requires. He invites and he instructs. He confronts and he commissions. He loves and he lasts. What we do with that Truth—how we choose to walk in or to walk away from that Truth—is a choice allowed its lingering within the well of our will.
From that well, we either draw out a ladle of obedience or a portion of defiance. Both choices are laced with the wet of the living Water because once Christ crashes onto the scene of our current, we cannot leave as unchanged. We can ignore. We can pretend that He never happened. We can push him under the rug of our routine, but at the end of the day…at the end of a life,
All ignoring and pretending and pushing aside drains our cups to empty, while leaving the rim salted with the savor of the Sacred. We can no longer swallow life without swallowing him first.
It’s a bitter swallow for some, but for my daughter and me…
He’s the sweetest taste of our souls.
Perhaps this is reason behind her wish this day…her desire to throw a penny’s wish in hopes of seeing her Lord. A life span of almost six years has been more than enough time for her to begin in her understanding of her Savior’s love over her precious life. A young heart wrapped around this kind of truth, is a heart marked for kingdom living.
Miss Amelia has begun her quest toward her eternal. She reminds me of someone I once knew. And just today, that someone fell in love with her Savior all over again. At a stop light’s pause. Through a child’s words. In a penny’s wish for a Father to come and to be present, so that she could simply voice her love to him.
Face to face. Heart to heart. Child to Father. Sinner to Savior.
I don’t know the wish of your heart this day. We spend a lifetime wishing and wanting for more. More stuff. More money. More health. More purpose. More wisdom. More love. More time. More joy. More _______________.
I wonder what would happen if we would simply pause long enough to cease from our wanting “more” and to, instead, throw our penny’s wish into the one well that always ladles sacred. That always serves satisfaction. That always fills to overflow…to more…to beyond the portion that we could ever ask for or imagine.
I wonder.
And it is this wondering part of me—the childlike portion that remains tender to the possibility of a penny’s wish—that led me to find a few coppers and to navigate my van to a well not far from our home.
For all of the things we could have wished for in those moments before the fountain (we had a lot of pennies…), we first wished for Jesus to come. Then, we wished for other things, like telescopes and surprises and a publisher and some peace. And as we smiled and walked around the water’s edge, somewhere in the trickle of its cascade I could have sworn that I heard the whisper of my Father echoing from deep within…
Behold, dearly beloved child. I am coming soon! And I am bringing my reward with me. And my reward belongs to you and to your daughter and to everyone whose heart’s hope is scripted with my name. I am coming to take you home to the place that I have prepared for you. A place that exceeds your wish. Where faith becomes sight. Where forever becomes final. (Rev. 22:12; John 14:1-4; 1 Cor. 2:9, 1 Cor. 13:12).
And so I pray,
Come quickly, Lord Jesus, to the well of my hope. Today I throw my pennies…my life…in your regard and ask that you make yourself real to me. Split the sky and stand upon my current. How I long to see you face to face and to throw these arms around the arms the hung in surrender for me. You are my wish, for you are my beginning. My end. And my middle. Everything else…everyone else…is just filler. Keep my faith at a child’s understanding, so that pennies and wishes and wells become my portion, as my skepticism and doubting fade to black. Amen.
Copyright © May 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
Such a way with words…..
Thanks for the post.
How beautiful.
So sweet!! And your Amelia looks like a minature of you. We all should keep looking up…..I,too, feel HE will be coming soon!
God bless….
Marilyn
Truth transforms and transcends. He reveals and he requires. He invites and he instructs. He confronts and he commissions. He loves and he lasts.
Elaine, it simply doesn’t get much better than this! Makes my heart beat even stronger.
Love,
Yolanda
Elaine:
Oh how I hope your and Amelia’s wishes come true! Especially the first one. By the way I love the name Amelia, it is such a beautiful name. It goes with such a pretty young lady. I love the pictures with your post. What a wonderful time you must have had with your little one.
Thanks for the post and sweet comments you posted on my blog. I really apprectiate it.
“I wonder what would happen if we would simply pause long enough to cease from our wanting “more” and to, instead, throw our penny’s wish into the one well that always ladles sacred.”
Do you think He could hold Himself back, if we all (His children), did just that?
Elaine, I could not read this with dry eyes. Beautiful. The expression, “A penny for your thoughts” seems like an unbelievable find today reading your heart penned in this post. Your words are so valuable because they always give praise, honour and glory to our King of Kings. They express my longing to know Him more and be filled with all of Him.
I love how you drove to a well/fountain and actually followed through – surrendered your pennies – wished a little girls dreams. You and your daughter will cherish this moment as a teasured memory stone in your walk with the Lord.
My heart longs right now to find a well…throw my pennies in…share my heart, my dreams…wish for His arms around me, tell Him that I love Him deeply, but I know I can do that right here, on my knees, in His presence.
Beautiful, my friend…beautiful.
Joy
Beautiful, Elaine! I remember throwing many pennies in that same body of water. Seems like just yesterday I was with my Dad at that very same park making wishes. Thanks for the post and a trip back in memories for me.
Amelia is onto something, I do believe! What a doll!
Oh, those are beautiful pictures… and great thoughts. You are always pointing us to Jesus… right where He would have you to point us.
Thanks so much for sharing with us.
And… we are going to view session one tonight. We just finished up our homework for Broken Hearts, Broken Ties. (that maybe backwards) We would love for you to comment on your lessons learned and the things that really spoke to you. Can’t wait to hear them. Lynn
Such a wonderful post! Your opening conversation really got to me. Oh, to come toward Jesus with a child-like heart!
It reminds me of a song by Darryl Evans entitled “Child-like Heart.” The words are simple:
Teach me to have a child-like heart
Free me to be undiginified
Teach me to have a child-like heart
Free me to dance all over my pride
Chorus:
Gonna dance like a child
Sing like a son
Abandon myself to the Holy one to the Holy one
This is a great little worship song that really gets you in a place to praise our Creator! To tell Him, you love Him!
Prayers and Blessings!
Rebecca
Amen to your little one…oh to see the precious face of Jesus.
I wish for more of HIM!!! I pray every day that if I do nothing more today that I love Him more and know Him more. I don’t always stay true and focused on that as the day goes by but it’s in my heart and He knows it’s a desire of mine.
Oh the precious name of Jesus. Wow…in the midst of pain the last couple days, I just want to praise that precious name!
Love,
Paula
Elaine-your daughters penny wish is worth a million isn’t it? I absolutely love your writing! It brings me such comfort, peace, encouargement, conviction…keep writing your heart (God’s heart). If I was a publisher I would take you up. What a great way to end a retreat…at a well…throwing in your pennies…yourself…to God!!
And your daughter not only has a heart like you but she looks just like you!!
You are a blessing dear friend!
In His Graces~Pamela
There are many times in the past few years that I have “wished” to see Him face to face. Times to tell Him how much I love Him and times to wrap my arms around and just lay my head on His chest for a little extra comfort.
Life can be tough and scary…and He knows that. The thing that eases my mind is the fact that I know He is working. Working good even when theses earthly eyes don’t see it.
And when He is finished with those works and me….it will be so worth it.
He loves us so. And in His patience He continues to open the eyes of the pure in heart so that they can see Him. I have learned lately that it may be disguised in nature or like you in the request or wish of your child. If we are looking for Him….He will be found.
I pray that He will continue to open your eyes so that you may see Him. And from the journey you walk with Him you will end up with many sweet words to share with those coming from along from behind.
Keep putting it all out there…hearts are listening.
I think of the widow’s two mites…and she who gave all she had…may I follow her example, offering my all to find the one thing that is needful, Jesus, the true Treasure of this life…
Beautiful post.
…Face to face. Heart to heart. Child to Father. Sinner to Savior.
Thanks Amelia for your thoughts. Thanks mom for sharing them.
Beautiful…
Blessings to you,
Susan
How very blessed to have the wishes of a young child bring us into a greater place of simplistic love of our Lord and Savior. Such a precious moment to share with sweet little Amelia. God is so smiling on her life and her ministry into your heart and mine.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment between you and your precious girl. This post is a treasure and like many you’ve written, has brought tears to my eyes today. The words that flow from your heart never fail to touch mine. Blessings my friend.
With continuing prayers…
Tracy
I often wonder and try to remember what “faith like a child’ means.
I also want to remember it and go back to that kind of faith. Faith that doesn’t fear very much at all. Faith and believes and never questions……
thanks! in HIM –
Mindy
Elaine,
Thank you for your heart felt encouragement on my blog and prayer prayed for me. You have touched me and my dear Mom-in-Law in ways words cannot express. Like Paul we have both prayed that if God would remove our “thorn in the flesh” He would get the praise. But we have received the answer, “My grace is sufficient…for my power is perfected in weakness…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” I’ve dug deep into what this tension of opposites mean and found peace and perspective. My Judy-Mom has too in her own ways. And while the pain and the unknown future is uncertain, we rest in a Sovereign God. And when we hurt and despair, God brings along something or someone, like you to give us a new way of seeing an old truth already known but needs to be embraced at that moment.
And I pray, Father, if you would find it fitting to open a publisher’s eyes to the ability of Elaine to take your truth and make it real, while not compromising or watering down the depth and breadth of your revealed Word we would give you all the glory. Give Elaine the perseverance needed and the trusting heart for your timing, your ways, and your glory. That is what she lives for, You and You alone. Amen!
Elaine…
You are leaving a legacy of faith for your children. I love wishing wells… and a penny (in this case) is worth far more than we will ever know!