Seven Seashells sent to the Shore

Two weeks ago my family was at the beach. Shocking since we living Florida, I know. It was one of those blustery days where most Floridians were bundled up by their fireplaces sipping on hot cocoa pretending it was cold outside, but the Grimms’ were out in their shorts and flip flops splashing in the Ocean.

I was tender. The night before had been particularly rough, and while Tom and I had both committed in our hearts to weather whatever storms came at us together with God, I was walking along the beach feeling weary.

I looked out at the Ocean, and picked up shells, most were broken and weren’t worth keeping. In fact, every single shell I came across while I walked was just pieces of what it once was.

Father, I hurt and I am tired. Father, I need to see you. I need to feel that you see me. Why so many broken shells, Father just give me one beautiful shell. Just one, then I will know you see me and you love me.

Yep, I was having a moment.

A moment when the blood of Christ just wasn’t tangible enough for me, and my faith was wavering.

This is not a proud moment.

This is a tender moment. A humble moment.

A moment where I know I am nothing. Standing in the vastness of the ocean with the waves licking my toes. Thinking Who am I that He would even care?

The waves stopped for just a moment and I looked down. There at my feet was a perfect shell. Not a piece of a shell, but a perfectly whole shell. And next to it…

Was another.

Thank you, they are beautiful.

In the deafening sound of the waves and into my heart I heard Him say:

“All I make is beautiful, and I will surpass all you ever dreamed.”

It was about that time that Tom caught up to me on the beach.

"What are you doing, Jenny?" He asked as he grabbed my waist to spin me around and wrap me up into a bear hug.

I showed him my shells. I was giddy over what I’d just found. He’d been busy catching fish for the kids to play with on the beach. He walked with me for a bit and was in awe of how we found 5 more perfect shells, each smaller than the next. Once we had seven, I told him that we were done.


Seven Seashells sent to the shore... by my sweet Savior

It was complete. Our family. His love. It was all complete.

Tears sprang to my eyes.

I felt silly.

How could I question His love for me? How could I put Him to the test like that?

I have professed a strong belief in Christ for years, but my faith was WEAK that day. He showed up in a tangible way when I needed Him the most. And I am so thankful.

Since those 7 seashells, life is continued to go on. Some days are better than others. Each day I look at the day before and am in awe of the mighty way I see God working in my marriage. It was only 3 short weeks ago my husband left our home and told me that we would be getting a divorce. The shells, God gave those to me only two weeks ago. Last week, I met my husband on the beach and remarried him under a new covenant.

If I am brutally honest with you, I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to fall. I’ve been waiting for the old us to return, but it just hasn’t.

Trust me, it’s been hard.
We’ve had moments.
Moments of weak faith.
Moments of frustration.
Moments of exhaustion.
But more than that we’ve had moments of pure joy.
Moments of praise.
Moments of tenderness.
Moments that I honestly don’t even have the words to describe.

I finally feel known. I finally feel seen. I can’t believe how good marriage can actually be. I thought people made it up, I thought they were just faking so that others would admire them. And I don’t know about those relationships, but I know this one, and it is better with Christ in the middle of it. He has bound this family together in the most beautiful way imaginable.
It might seem silly to pray for a seashell, but it was so much more. God DELIGHTS in blessing His children. He delights in communicating with us. If you are feeling weak in your faith, talk to Him. He WILL answer you. You are so loved.