Tammy Holton, a friend and contributor of the Lily, just celebrated a Birthday.
She was gifted by her family a “winter” weekend to a North Carolina beach. She was kind enough to share with us through text and photos the joys of her Birthday celebration. A wife, mother, and grandmother photos were delightful as was the Birthday Cake! 🎂
Tammy, also shared a photo of a scene that often causes a pause to our souls as we bathe in what seems like a lonely winter ocean where sun bathers often shy away from!
Yet, It seems to me at times a view of the ocean on a clear winter windy day speaks volumes that I might hear only when the ocean is alone! The Psalmist might have felt the same.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
(Psalm 62:5 ESV)
*Psalm 62:3 ESV
Happy February Birthday Tammy! And, thanks for the share!
*short psalm to read…62
thedailylily.com 
Thanks for sharing this beautiful photo of the ocean, Tammy! And I hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration!
Sara, you wrote, “Yet, It seems to me at times a view of the ocean on a clear winter windy day speaks volumes that I might hear only when the ocean is alone! The Psalmist might have felt the same.” “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
(Psalm 62:5 ESV)
Looking at the photo, it seemed to me that the beauty of the “lonely winter ocean” was how much God’s creation could be appreciated…as there was nothing human to distract…just the fence that Sara quoted “…like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?”…and that led us to reflect upon God’s word and pause and meditate with each “Selah”. Looking at that vast ocean gave real meaning to Psalm 62 and God being our hope, our refuge, our rock, our fortress, our glory, our salvation. And it brought to mind that because that Jesus died in our place on that cross, that God cast all of our sins are into the depths of that sea (Micah 7:19).
Thank you for the birthday wishes, it was a wonderful weekend. I have certainly visited the beach numerous times in the warmer months, but it was just something different about being near the ocean during the winter. I think maybe the picture here shows what Sara mentioned above, “Yet, It seems to me at times a view of the ocean on a clear winter windy day speaks volumes that I might hear only when the ocean is alone! The Psalmist might have felt the same.”
As a teenager, I recited “The footprints in the sand” and would like to share here….
” I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flash scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. ‘ Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way; but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me. The Lord replied, ‘ My precious, precious child I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”🙏
I’ve so enjoyed reading Debi and Tammy’s comments.
Debi researches scriptures, devotions and sermons and offers her understanding as a good teacher of which she is! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Tammy gives encouragement by offering her passion and compassion as a nurse of mercy does. And, she is faithful with her nursing and spiritual care.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼