Habari

The memory of sweet Annie walking with the sass of a 30-year-old has captured my attention this afternoon. She stands at her porch as I walk to the office, both of us barefoot and sleepy. She smiles through her cute East African accent and shouts, "HI!" "Hi Annie girl!" I reply. Irene has already greeted me from the kitchen and I meet Lucy at the office to say 

hello

habari

how was your night? 

fine and yours? 

so good. 

I miss this morning time. the stillness of eating oatmeal and black coffee with Carson and Anna beside me. Stephen sits quietly in the office while Kadie starts her morning in the apartment. This was a sweet season for me. and it only gets sweeter the more I tell my stories, the more I remember what God is doing halfway across the world, the more I remember the faces of my East African friends. It always started with a greeting, a shake of the hand, a slap of the fingers, a one-armed wrap around hug, a bear's embrace, and a run of excitement "for God has been gracious to let us meet again." 

People are what matter. Greetings matter. I think this sort of thing is old news to God. and I don't think it's how we greet him with the shove off, with the "I'm busy," with the nonstop running that matters. I think it's how He greets us that matters - because it has the power to change everything about our day, about our life even. 

Scripture says He greets us in the morning with new mercies. He has been singing over us all night for us to wake up in His presence. He greets us at the start and end of a season and walks with us through the in-betweens. and in every way He is enough in those moments whether or not we believe that. He greets us like we've never messed up or walked away from Him. He talks about us like He would Jesus: This is my beloved son with whom I am well please. but I'll be the first to admit I don't believe that sometimes. I have a twisted idea of an angry man standing over me with a disappointed look on his face. maybe you do too. but it's just not true. don't believe it for one second.

I woke up this morning with a mission: speak 5 truths before my feet hit the floor, let God greet me with grace in full today. Harder than it seems for a girl who sometimes doesn't believe it. But I take a deep breath

1. I am fearfully and wonderfully made

2. I am known and seen by my Father

3. I am loved more than I could ever imagine

4. There is grace in abundance for me today

5. I am HIMpowered to walk free today

my feet hit the floor and everything feels different already. I don't have the aching for Africa today, I only have sweet memories of Annie greeting me in the morning. I think that that scene reminds me a lot of how God greets me. because I'm not thinking about the cereal bowl Annie spilt on me yesterday. I'm only thinking of that cute toddler in her braids holding sunflowers and how she gives the best hugs and has the best dance moves in East Africa. 

She joins me at the red dirt path and we walk together for a while. I sit in a chair underneath the canvas-umbrella and she climbs up on my lap and we eat our breakfast. I'll maybe read some scripture out loud or we might dance to music. either way - the morning is full of JOY. and I think that's how God always intended our greetings to be. 

here's to toddler Ann stealing my heart on the daily, memories leading to praise, and a good old fashion greeting. May you know that God is for you and walking with you today.

Em