SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

I had mentioned in my last post that Allyson was upset that she never got to tell her sister good-bye.  Our plan was for Ally to send Emma-Grace a letter telling her anything she wanted to.  After deciding to do this, Katie, Christopher, Allyson and I all decided to write a letter to Emma and then send them by balloon "airmail".  The kids loved the idea and took several days actually getting their letters written.  After it was all said and done we proceeded to gather the balloons for the event.  We were finally ready to send out our letters yesterday.  All in all it took 6 mylar balloons and 10 latex balloons to lift the letters up into the sky.  Talk about heavy duty letters.  

I have to admit I did peak at Christopher's and Allyson's letters to see what they wanted to tell their sister.  I know, "bad mama".    However I will say I was quite impressed with their maturity and the things they told their little sister.  They both talked about how much they loved her, how they did not want her to have to die and that they missed her very much.   All things I know everyone in the family also feels, but I was amazed at how well at 9 and 10 years old they were able to verbalize this in their letters.  

The actual send off of the balloons could not have worked out better.  I came in from work and the sun was just about to set in the sky.  We took the special package up the hill in behind our house as to avoid the balloons getting caught in the surrounding trees.  I took pictures to remember the event by.  Chris and Ally let the letters attached to the strings of the balloons go and we watched as they rose up into the sky.  As we looked up to follow the balloons on their journey what did we see but a beautiful rainbow in the horizon.  We watched at the balloons slowly but surely made their way up and over the rainbow and then out of sight.  What a beautiful sign from God letting us know our precious little Emma-Grace is with Him

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"As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake." - Ezekiel 1:28

In the Bible there are rainbows mentioned in the beginning, middle, and end of scripture. Near the beginning in Genesis, God sends a rainbow as His covenant that He will never again flood all the earth as punishment for human sin. In the middle, in Ezekiel, the rainbow symbolizes the coming of Christ, as well as to declare the glory of God. And in Revelation, at the end of God's Word, John described Christ as "clothed with a cloud and a rainbow on His head," a symbol of peace and reconciliation with God.

In the Bible God often used symbols to show us His goodness and righteousness.   God gave us the rainbow as a symbol of the trustworthiness of His promises - as a symbol of hope in Him.  God gave the symbol of the rainbow to Noah and all of us after the great flood. He gave it to us to say He keeps His promises.  I think He continues to let us see rainbows even now to remind us of His wonderful promises. 

As Christians we often think our lives should be without adversity.  But God never promised us a life free of pain. As most of us have experienced in one way or another trials do come.  We aren’t immune to adversity, but God has promised that he will keep us safe in the storm.  When trails come, often it may be hard to hear God amidst the sounds of the storm.  However, we can rest assured that no matter how loud or violent the tribulation, He is there right beside us.  After all of the wind, thunder and rain are gone, He reminds us of His love with the beautiful stillness and a rainbow in the sky. 

Sometimes we need a little heavenly reminder, that we much choose to see, to believe that miracles can come through the trials of life. The most beautiful rainbows are those that come from storms that rage the roughest. For in seeking out the miracle in the trial, we’ll find our rainbow in the flood and God’s promises through the storm. After all, I once read that you can’t even spell rainbow without rain. 

I think yesterday's rainbow was a beautiful example of God's love for our family. A promise, that as His children, He goes to prepare a place for us, just like He did for Emma-Grace.  A place that is more precious to me now than ever.  Especially since I know my little Emma-Grace will be waiting on me at the gates of Heaven.  Well, at least in my letter to Emma I ask her to wait for me at the gates, so that's how I am planning it anyway.  

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth."  Genesis 9: 12-13