My across-the-street neighbor loves cherries. I didn’t know that until last Friday. How funny to discover that both my son and James Keith are crazy about pitted fruits in the same week- ha! đ
It just sort of spilled out while we were all hanging out together on our front porch.
“Do you want a Cherry Coke?“, I asked our visitors- James Keith (JK), his wife Denise, and our mutual friend, Laurel.
“Yes! I LOVE cherries!“, JK chimed in first. Denise and Laurel both wanted one too, so I slipped back inside and joined Kevin who was already pouring one for himself in the kitchen. The Cokes were room temperature, so I pulled three thick glass tumblers from the cabinet and got to work filling them with ice. I don’t drink soda anymore, but oh how my mouth watered as the red-brown, fizzy liquid crackled its way around the cubes and turned into foam at the top of each glass!
Back on the porch, I handed our guests their drinks and offered them each a Kit Kat from the heart-shaped box I gave Kevin a few days before. Then, as Denise shared a story about how they had cherry turnovers instead of a groom’s cake at their wedding, I watched James Keith take a deep breath,
After that, we talked about how you don’t ever see a sweet cherry tree in Alabama. Turns out, they wouldn’t bloom at the right time here.
We hadn’t planned to get together, the five of us. It just sort of happened after school that day and I felt grateful for the
After a traumatic
But impromptu gatherings with people who know exactly why I might currently feel most comfortable fellowshipping out front? YES, LORD. Send them over. And if I start to sweat in my swingy seat, pull Luke 10:17 out of my mouth just like you did last time we were all together. (âLord, even the demons submit to us when we say your name!â) Sure, it was a little embarrassing to stop everybody in their tracks so that I could loudly reveal that I needed help regulating, but in doing so, my “demons” did flee and I ended up having such a good time that day.
I never did get squirmy sitting on the porch on Friday though. I just swung there next to Laurel and enjoyed everyone’s company.
And let me tell you something: healing happens when we sit with each other and listen. By the end of our visit, I left that porch feeling like a woman reborn.
…
You can imagine my surprise when I opened my Bible app a couple of hours later and saw the word “cherry” in the very first sentence of the Verse of the Day. Go back and look, it’s right there on February 16th. Here’s a condensed version of what it said, “Though the cherry trees don’t blossom…I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior…I take heart…and gain strength…I run like a deer and feel like I am king of the mountain.“
Those kinds of “coincidences” always make me smile. đ And reading that particular verse, on that particular day, reminded me to be thankful for my struggles, because without them, I would never know my Strength.
…and for cherries, whether they grow here in Alabama or not. đ
Layla
PS – One more interesting note that feels fun to mention: That scripture above is from the book of Habakkuk, and its final chapter ends with a song. Our neighbor, James Keith, is a musician (many folks believe Habakkuk was too) and his new song was released the day before we all sat together on the porch! Here’s a link if you’d like to check it out: Out of the Water
It’s such a fun creation and so is he!
It gave me God-bumps to read about how âcherryâ showed up in your daily Bible app reading just hours later! I love the way God works! We are so thankful for our front porch time together, and for the slow and steady relationship-building that God has been orchestrating these last three years. âĽď¸
Right?! What a trip to see THAT word pop up on THAT day! And I am so grateful for the way God is writing our story too! There’s a part in Habakkuk that says, “His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand.” When I read it I thought of y’all and the sunrise we share at the top of our street. đ
Layla, how I would love to come sit on your front porch with you. Itâs a little to cold for front porch sitting here in Connecticut, but our front porch is waiting for us, soon ! BTW….I havenât had a cherry coke in years”..didnât know they still make it.
Oh, yes! Kevin always buys Cherry Coke Zero. He loves it! đ
And thank you for offering to come sit with me! I hope yours is sit on-able soon too!
Lovely post — some of my best memories are cherry picking in upstate new york when my boys were little. You get to climb the trees to pick the cherries! …and we had cherry and apple pie at our wedding instead of cake:)
Oh, what a fun memory to read about! đ Thank you so much for sharing it, Peggy!
Dear Layla,
Thanks for including us, through you descriptive words, in your front porch fellowship!
I know the healing when we sit together and listen is real.
And those God-coincidences are such amazing! Like a wink-smile-hug.
God bless đđź
Of course! I believe we are better together and that includes the folks who join me in this “happy place” too! đ
And, I agree, God-winks also feel just like a hug!
Layla, I prefer to think that the cherry appeared as a message to you that you are on the right path. God communicates in many different ways if our eyes are open to it. You were blessed that day!
Yes! That’s *exactly* what I thought when it popped up too! đ What a fun way to connect with my Maker!
Layla! You are a great writer. I loved remembering the Lordâs goodness this morning through your story
That’s what I call fruit of the Spirit! đ
This. âYES, LORD. Send them over. And if I start to sweat in my swingy seat, pull Luke 10:17 out of my mouth just like you did last time we were all together.â I love how it speaks of the significance of loving community in the midst of the healing process. May those of us who have walked the road with âscary-to-usâ thoughts and symptoms aspire to be ones who sit with others on their swingy seatsâcomforting them with the comfort God gave us. Thank you, Layla, for coming to sit on my swingy seat via this post. âşď¸
God is amazing in how He works everything together. Thank you for sharing this Layla. I’ve been dealing with some hormonal imbalances since my 4th child was born 17 months ago and my health issues flare up, it consumes and paralyzes me into this paranoid fear and I feel like it is the only think I can focus on, it takes my time, steals my joy, and stops me from smiling. Thank you for sharing this. It was good for me to read.
You are not going to believe this but I taught Keith and his Sister Kim in Sunday School many years ago! Loved his Mom and Dad. His Dad also had a beautiful voice and sang at our church! I loved your post..God is always Faithful as we lean into His Everlasting Arms!
Oh my goodness… happy tears…… What a blessing this post is to me……… and I love that chapter in Habakkuk is one of my favs!!!
The healing power of Godâs word and front porch time!
First of all — your ‘new’ (to me) hair style is adorable. Secondly, I think you’re on the right track with your writing! It’s a call, it’s a calling…and you do it well. Speaking to the heart.
Wish I could listen to your friend’s song, but I don’t have iTunes!
And I LOVE cherries too. That Scripture coming up with priceless…like you and your family. I’m sorry that something happened to make you anxious about going out, and will pray for your healing.
Blessings!
Layla,
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! We all have scary-to-us times in our lives and it helps to know we are not alone. I love that God reached out to you in such a sweet cherry way! You are stronger than you know. Keep sharing and growing in God’s love and strength!