January 11, 2012 with 12 Comments

491.

Finding what you’re Looking for

I was determined to find my own sand dollar.

I mentally planned my walk to sand dollar beach when the tide was at its lowest then I started my trek.

I looked.

And I looked.

And I looked.

Everywhere I looked I saw people with bags full of sand dollars, but I had yet to find mine.

Then I prayed.

And I prayed.

And I prayed.

Surely God had a sand dollar for me.

I looked harder. I walked faster. I prayed louder.

I walked into tide. I walked away from the tide.

I squinted, then I strained.

I found other shells, plenty of them. But all I wanted was my very own sand dollar.

No matter where I looked or how hard I looked, there was no sand dollar for me.

Do you ever feel the same way about God?

When it comes to God, it seems like everyone else is walking around with a bag full of sand dollars.

They are smiling, and content, while you’re still looking for just one, simply one meager sand dollar to call your own.

It could be a dream you’ve been waiting on. It could be a prayer that’s worn out your knees. It could be a relationship you’ve been waiting for, or simply a verse to call your own.

Not a sand dollar somebody else gives you.

Not a sand dollar you buy in the store.

Not a conch, or a starfish, but your very own sand dollar story.

So you finally give up.

Or do you?

Just because you haven’t found your own sand dollar yet doesn’t mean it’s not there.

My walk was just about done.

I didn’t find my sand dollar, but suddenly I looked up.

The beach was sparkling in its beauty, the sun was shining in its brightness, and I realized this:

Sometimes, sand dollars are simply for another day.

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  • Milo

    The sand dollar area has been closed, you either have to swim through a small area with current to reach the other side, or go on a boat. sometimes the way to our sand dollar is blocked and we need a boat or someone to carry us through. a boat is not always available, thank God we have someone to carry us through. next time you come maybe there will be a sand dollar. Wait.

  • Gina

    :) Morning :) always had a strong sense of what I was suppose to be looking 4.never finding it.was sure what it would look like.until I took the leap of faith had a serious talk with God several times.unexpectedly 1day. several clues showed up. Maps Directions Pictures. I still looked @ these things he sent 2 me,until 1day recently
    I put it all together.the beach wasn’t closed anymore..the sign read I gave u all the tools.

  • Gina

    now go and share the messages to others.the flow and current sometimes rough,But I did reach the other side.now its my job to help others get to Gods side and see a similar view or just how beautiful it is with a little help.

  • Ruth

    Milo, great point. Lina, great blog. Need to look up…

  • Gina

    Thankyou 4 that message Lina. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will will give you rest.

  • Candy Fulsher

    Lina, there are time that I can only find broken shells in life and there are times that God shows me so much more. We made a trip to Florida after my daughter passed away. My hubby, my boys and I “needed” that trip to get away from “reality “. Our dear friends in Christ hosted us for a week. We headed by boat to an island for a church picnic. Along the way, we got to see a spotted eagle ray. (They said that some people who live there have never seen them before ). We continued on and had a group of dolphins jumping in the wake of the boat. How much better could that get? As we were setting anchor at the beach, a manatee was spotted close to us. Our friend and my boys bailed into the water, swam over and was able to pet it before it swam off. We found live and dead shells and live and dead sand dollars. I soaked in the warm rays of the sun and was refreshed. (Plus we got lots of giggles about some of the other ladies from the church going for a walk and coming upon a group of nudists). Later that trip we were taken to the everglades and were able to encounter (safely) lots of gators in the wild. I have been there two other times and not had any experiences like that before. I am leaving to go again soon. I can’t wait to see if God has anything special in store for me again.

    Take another trip sometime, Lina. It is all there and one day when you least expect it, God will put it before your eyes. (Feel free to take me lol…I’m getting pretty good at shelling and finding sharks teeth too ;-)

  • Gina

    Smiling even brighter! Love this blog :)

  • Suzanne M.

    Just what I am thinking.. Ok Lord.. whats wrong with me that I am not getting what others have. Everyone else seems content and it eludes me.

    thanks for the post.

  • Kimberly

    The sand picture is making me homesick. :)

  • Sandra Varela

    I know exactly what you mean, I think that I been looking for my sand dollar for a very long time, but maybe I was just looking in the wrong places..
    I could relate to what you say above, when you see other people smiling and you ask yourself, why can’t that be me? but little by little i’m learning that God has a plan for all of us, even though MOST of the time we don’t understand why we feel the way we do? or why things happen in our lives that we wish was only a bad dream…

  • Gina

    Great message today! Great day period :) I passed my sand dollar on, in hope that this little 1 will find theirs when they grow up. P.s. I’d rather be @ the beach instead of pulling out my shovel 4the snow that mite be coming. thanks 4 positive post :)

  • Gina

    Found my other foot print.Leads to my pillow with an ocean view and sounds of nature in the background, softly putting all us to sleep. Sweet drear dreams. Open hearts.Listen to what he whispers next.and What Dr.L says 2. nite Team Harvest!