FACE TO FACE

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

The house was quiet as a soft May evening stole through the windows, casting shadows about the living room. A coastal breeze ruffled the curtains as I sat in the chair rocking and humming a familiar lullaby as the baby in my arms slept.

I ran a hand through her silky hair and touched her cheek as I drank in every detail of her tiny face. My daughter sent me at least one picture every day, and I saved every single one of them. But as wonderful as the pictures were, they didn’t come close to the real thing—to actually seeing her in person.

She stirred in my arms and I placed her gently against my shoulder as I rocked. I could feel her breath soft as a whisper against my neck and I kissed her warm cheek, basking in “grandmaness”. Yes, face to face is much better than a picture, I thought to myself.

The phrase, “face to face” captured my attention and my thoughts wandered back to the ultrasound pictures my daughter sent me via a text message. I closed my eyes as I rocked and recalled how amazed I was at the clarity of the ultrasound picture. I studied the sweet profile, taking in every detail. My grandma heart fell in love that day with the sweet life nestled in my daughter’s womb.

I found a website that provided an overview of the baby’s growth through each week of pregnancy. My daughter and I talked several times a week and she would share what she was experiencing. I will never forget the day she called to share that the baby was a girl. My daughter and son-in-law chose the name Lillian. Days turned to weeks and weeks flowed into months as the baby grew and I spent my time getting to know as much as I could about my unborn granddaughter and preparing for the day she would be born.

It was early on a Thursday morning in March when the call came. “My water broke!” my daughter said excitedly.

I hung up the phone and began running in circles, accomplishing very little—the way grandma’s are known to do sometimes. Thankfully Marc was there to take matters in hand and he helped me get ready to go. A short time later the man God gave me leaned in the car window and prayed for me and for Elizabeth and Mike and the safe arrival of our granddaughter; then he kissed the end of my nose and sent me off to San Diego to be present in the labor and delivery room.

I got stuck in traffic on the freeway and then I went to the wrong hospital—who knew there was more than one hospital by the same name in the same city, but I finally arrived at the right place and was soon in the birthing room with Elizabeth and Mike.

At 4:58PM as Mike and I spoke words of encouragement to Elizabeth, she pushed again and Lillian emerged and gave a loud cry to let everyone know she had arrived. I could not find words for the emotion I felt at being there as this precious baby we had been waiting for came into the world. All of the reading, preparing and looking at ultrasound pictures paled in comparison to this moment. No longer did we have to rely on ultrasound images to see her—we were now face to face!

“You see her as she is.” My heart warmed to the sound of His voice as I my thoughts returned to the here and now.

His words were familiar and He reminded me that I had read them in 1 John 3:2. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (NASB)

This reminded me of 1 Corinthians 13:12 which says, “12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

I thought again about the day Marc and I went to an ultrasound appointment with Mike and Elizabeth. We gathered around and were amazed as we saw the baby in my daughter’s womb kicking and waving her arms. We also got to hear her heart beating. It was a sweet time that left our hearts yearning to see her clearly and hold her near.

“You saw her dimly in the ultrasound, but now you see her clearly—as she is,” He said softly.

My heart sat down at the well to talk with Him about that. (I love that I can spend time with Him at the well even when I am rocking Lillian.)

“Lord,” I began, speaking softly so as not to disturb the baby sleeping in my arms, “reading your word is a bit like seeing you through an ultrasound.” He waited for me to continue, knowing that my brain sometimes goes on overload when so many thoughts flood it all at the same time.

I gathered up the thoughts and began to share them with Him whom my soul loves.

“When I read Your Word I learn about You. Who You are. What You say. What You do. I see You moving in my life. But I can’t physically see You yet. Spending time with You through Your Word and in prayer and worship is wonderful. But it leaves my heart yearning for the day I will see You as You are. You know…face to face,” I finished.

We sat quietly and I remembered a recent conversation with a friend of mine with whom I had shared that I wanted to write a Conversation about the birth of my granddaughter and being face to face and the promise we have of one day being face to face with the Lord. She had listened to my ramblings and then she said something that I had not considered. She looked straight into my eyes as she said, “Diana, the Lord looks forward to seeing us face to face too. He sees us now, but it is different than the day we will step from time into eternity and He meets us there...”

I closed my eyes trying to imagine the day I would take my last breath on earth and in the next moment take my first breath of the clear, sin free air of heaven. I tried to imagine the Lord waiting there for me, watching my arrival. What would that moment be like? Would I see the dear faces of loved ones who have gone before me or would the face of my Savior be the first I see? What would I do? Would I cry like a baby? Would I jump for joy without my knees and ankles cracking and popping the way grandma’s knees and ankles are apt to do? Would I stand speechless, with tears of unsurpassed joy on my face? Would Jesus enfold me in His arms and whisper words of welcome? Would I fall face down, unable to speak in the presence of Him who gave all so that I could be with Him forever?

I kissed Lillian’s cheek as face to face thoughts turned in my mind and a poem poured into my heart filling it until the words overflowed in worship at the Lord’s feet.

FACE TO FACE
Early morning I walk the path
That leads me to the Well
To spend some time in quietness
Words of life to my heart tell

My head is bent in reverence,
My soul is deeply stirred
As words of life He speaks to me
From the pages of His Word

The eyes of my heart see Him,
With each turning of the page
Eternal truth that does not change
No matter what my age

Tells me of the Savior’s blood
For me a sinner shed
Flowed like a river down splintered cross
Making alive she who once was dead

My heart bows down in worship
Nestled at His nail-pierced feet
As He continues speaking from His Word
I hear the echo of His heartbeat

Images of His glory
Imperfectly now I see
Dipping my heart in Living Waters clear
His reflection looks out at me

Lord, daily meet me in Your Word

Awash in Your marvelous grace

Until earth’s mist is swept from my eyes

And I see You as You are, face to face!

My sweet friend, when was the last time you trod the path to the well of His Word? I urge you to set aside what you are doing and go there now. As you open the pages He will meet you there. You will find that as You read His Word, You will know Him, and you will begin to long for the day you will be in His presence. All the studying, and reading, and seeing Him reflected through the Living Water of His Word will pale in comparison to the moment you step into eternity. There in His presence you will see Him as He is. Face to face.

Joy!

An Original Conversations at the Well

© Copyright by Diana Morgan, June 2, 2012