“With the millions and millions of fingerprint records that have been analyzed, no two duplicate fingerprint patterns have ever been recorded.”
This past April I lost one of my best friends, she gained her wings and went to be with Jesus. She also happened to be my great grandmother. I remember one day, after her passing, when my family and I were sitting in the house remembering and my Aunt says, “ Look at her fingerprints all over our lives.” At first I just let this comment skip right over and had no thoughts about it, but little did I know that it had settled within my heart and its true meaning would soon reveal itself. It was at her funeral, as I looked around the room at all the family, friends, and strangers that had come to remember my grandma on that sad, spring day, it came to me. In that moment I realized all the lives she had touched and all the people she had loved. She made an impact on us all. Her fingerprints are markers of love, teaching, disciplining, and growing were all over us and within us.
I believe that God puts people in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Some may be a combination of several, but each has their purpose. When I was younger I always dreamed of going to the University of Florida and joked with my great grandmother that I would live with her. So as the years went by and I finally enrolled at the University of Florida, I picked out my dorm and got everything set. I called my grandma with the good news that I would be attending UF and her only comment was, “ Good, I got your room all set up!” This wasn’t my plan, my plan was to have a normal college experience with a roommate and live on campus. But God had other plans. After that call I couldn’t say no to her sweet little voice so I cancelled my dorm contract and 3 months later moved in with my 85 year old great grandmother. At the time I felt I would miss out on so many things, but after a few short weeks, God revealed that not only did my grandmother need me there, but I also truly needed her. Living with my grandmother for the last few years of her life was one of the most AMAZING blessings that I have had and probably ever will receive in this world. The things that I learned from her have shaped me to be the strong, independent, courageous woman that I am. During my stay with her she taught me how to give and receive unconditional love. She taught me patience, kindness, generosity, and humility. She taught me how to know when pasta is done (by throwing it against the cabinet, if it sticks, it is done). She taught me how to bake. She taught me how to serve, give, and love. Her fingerprints are all over my life and will stay there forever.
I challenge you, during this holiday season, to reflect on all of the fingerprints on and in your life. Some may be for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Fingerprints may look different than you perceive. Some may look like coffee with your mom every morning, others may look like fishing or hunting with your dad, playing football with your little brother, or possibly even a simple conversation with a patient in the back of your ambulance. But each and every one of them have a purpose and show you a little bit more of God.
Ultimately He is the reason for the season. His fingerprints are the greatest of them all.
Merry Christmas!
