Back to Reality. Everlasting Delight.

Here’s what I hate: coming back to reality after a “magical” family vacation.

Back in Nashville this week, the skies are gray, there are piles of laundry in every room, there’s unpacking to be done, bills to sort through, and grocery shopping is a must. But, all I want is to be back at Disney World listening to my children laugh their heads off on Space Mountain.

Our trip was fantastic: 75 degrees and sunny every day. We had a plan that enabled us to do all the attractions we wanted to do with minimal waiting in lines. We stayed at a resort on Disney World property and our room had a view of Cinderella’s castle. We rode the monorail almost everywhere. My dad and his friend Brad who came with us on the trip, bought my daughters every souvenir they could possibly want. We fell into bed each night exhausted from all the walking, but completely full of fun memories, good food, and quality time spent with family.

My husband got his best time ever on the Disney Half-Marathon when he crossed the finish-line outside Epcot in under 2 hours. Coffee in hand, we cheered him on. I got to walk down Main Street and reminisce with my daddy who took me on so many Disney adventures as a child. I got to watch my girls meet Cinderella and listen to them exclaim: “That was awesome!!!” after each fast roller coaster. I got to eat delicious food and have my face warmed by the sunshine in January.

Does all of this sound idyllic? That’s because it was!

Saying goodbye to my dad was so hard. I really enjoy my time with him always, but this particular trip carried so many “dream-come-true” moments for both of us, that I think we had an especially good time together.

Disney has some pretty amazing attractions—there is so much to see and do. And while being entertained is always fun, there’s something sweet about experiencing these things together as a family. Because what I remember most is all the smiles—watching my children skip along, hearing them giggle, seeing them take it all in with wonder and joy.

When we were back at home and I was unpacking, I grasped up my daughter’s hoodie from the suitcase—holding it to my nose, I inhaled deeply. What does Disney World smell like? Syrup from breakfast, Popcorn, cotton candy, firework smoke, chocolate, southern breezes and, in this case, a bit like sweaty little girl. I closed my eyes remembering all the excitement and joy we had together. I longed to go back and prolong all the goodness.

It was truly a delightful trip. And now, it’s over and I am very sad.

Here’s what I love: There’s something everlasting in which to delight.

To delight in something is to enjoy it fully—to relish it completely. The object of our delight is something we consider to be a treat, a deep pleasure, or a true joy.

How disheartening it is to enjoy something profoundly only to have it come to an end. Yesterday, I remarked to Bill that in the past 2 weeks, I’ve had to say goodbye to my mom, take down Christmas decorations, say goodbye to my dad and come back from an amazing vacation. Talk about depressing. I hate the fact that “all good things must come to an end.” To quote my eight-year-old daughter: that’s just wrong.

We don’t like for fun and happiness to end. But, what if there was something happy and wonderful and filling and joyous and amazing and life altering that would never come to an end? Well, there is. Bless our hearts, THERE IS!

The Lord himself and His word are eternal. Intimacy with God through His word is not only possible, it’s the very definition of everlasting life.

Psalm 119:89 Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Psalm 1:1 says “Blessed is he who…delights in the law of the Lord.” This was a great reminder to me this morning that I have something sitting open right here on my kitchen island that will always fill me up and never die. I must remember what it means to delight in God’s word—to enjoy it fully—to relish it completely. I must remember that the object of my delight is something I should consider to be a treat, a deep pleasure, and a true joy.

I confess that I don’t always do this. I often delight too much in things that are perishing—literally fading away instead of delighting in God who is alive now and forever.

I am thankful for this reminder. I am thankful that I have something even better than fireworks and roller coasters to share with my daughters. Because just as visiting Disney World is better with people than alone, it is better to share the truth of God so that we can delight in it together!

So, here’s a tiny taste of the glorious delicacies found in the Bible:

Psalm 18:19


19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

God delights in me?!

I am so encouraged by this. How about you? What truths from scripture bring you everlasting joy?