I used to think of dolphins in a Myrtle Beach airbrushed sort of way. I’m not certain why that is. Don’t get me wrong. They are beautiful creatures, but I’ve never wanted one airbrushed on a t-shirt with beaded fringes or tattooed coming up the small of my back. But y’all… I have a new appreciation for the sweet, tender nature of dolphins!

As a family we went to Caswell to celebrate Thanksgiving and celebrate the life of my Mom. We would be carrying out my parents’ desire for Mom’s ashes to be scattered at the point where the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean meet. There are beautiful stories from that entire week, but this one is on my heart today. None of us looked forward to this Thanksgiving trek quite like we had in years past. While we would be going to our beloved Caswell, Nana would not be with us. And there was the holy and difficult work of scattering her ashes.

We gathered by the water that windy and chilly November morning. We gave thanks for Mom, speaking aloud to the Lord and to one another how knowing Love through her as wife, Mom, Nana, friend had changed us all for the better. We surrounded my Dad as he returned Mom’s earthly remains to the waters of the deep.

The images of this day and a host of the ones with Mom here with us are forever in my heart. From dust you have come and to dust you will return. Mom will live forever in heavenly glory as well as in our earthy memories. Glorious and guttural.

One by one, we slowly left that area. We all made our way around the shoreline, or on the path back to our house, or towards the pier, each dealing with our own grief and feelings differently. I remember Elizabeth being very visibly and understandably shaken. She asked for some time to walk around by herself. I squeezed her tight, telling her how loved she is and how proud Nana is of her. I urged her not to be gone long.

Knowing all of my children’s hearts are grieving, and knowing specifically Elizabeth’s heart was broken, I wept even harder. Elizabeth and her Nana shared a special, spunky bond. That dynamic duo were a force with which to be reckoned. I knew Elizabeth needed a love bigger than my own to help her heart begin to mend, a presence marked with the sweet aroma from the Lover of her soul.

I began to pray. Lord, you have given us Elizabeth, her life reminding us that nothing is impossible with you. I know you love her and gave your life for her. I thank you God for Elizabeth, for her love for you and for all of us, the heart she has surrendered to your great love. I pray boldly, Lord show up for her. Right now. In some sweet way personal to Elizabeth, remind her of your great, pursuing and redeeming love. Right now.

And you know what? I believed big that the God who made her just might do it. I wasn’t sure how, but I trusted that I would see Love show up for all of us, but specifically for Elizabeth in a real way.

We walked a few yards back over to the pier, our hearts heavy, our eyes full of tears. As I stepped onto the pier, I could see fins dancing around a few yards off the end of the pier. I quieted myself in a little bit of disbelief. Dolphins. Right there. We could almost touch them.

All the cousins had starting playing on the sandy beach area just beside the pier. They spotted the fins about that same time. We were all jumping up and down! Dolphins! I was afraid all of our excitement would scare them off. Turns out, they were there to give us a little show, perhaps just for us. Dancing together tenderly, seamlessly, there in that rough, dangerous water. Swimming up and back down. Over and over, they disappeared under the surface of the water, each time I was afraid that was the last we would see of them. A pair of them stayed in the area for about 20 minutes before moving along down the river. So beautiful. So majestic. So effortless. They were breathtaking.

About the time that my heart was about to explode, Elizabeth came up behind me, her tear soaked and blotchy face matching my own.

I reached around her shoulders and pointed, Babe, look: dolphins!

We stood there in silence for a while before she quietly said, It’s like Nana is with us.

I stared at the water, afraid to look away, not wanting to miss a moment, and said, Yes. I prayed for this. Well, not dolphins specifically. But I asked God, who made you and loves you way more than I ever can, to show up in a way that you and I would see was for us. I was just crazy enough to believe He just might do it! And look, dolphins! For us!

After a sacred pause, Elizabeth responded with wonder in her eyes and in her voice, You know what, Mom? Nana was like that. She prayed big prayers and was just crazy enough to believe God would do it.

Yes, sweet girl. That is our legacy.

We pray big and believe big. God showed up that day in so many sweet ways. Perhaps most sweetly and specifically for us in those dolphins.

May we remember to pray boldly, and be just crazy enough to believe Love might actually show up.