How the name Juniper found its start in my life !
Today I want to share a story from my life showing how the name Juniper Worldwide came about. I have been thinking on this for a while now. I tend to write some in journals and I have this story written out not realizing the importance at the time of it for our future.
I have always loved vacationing at St. George Island with my family. I have memories there of my children being small playing in the sand and ocean. I have memories of bonfires on the beach, walks, and lots of laughter. Some of our best weeks were at that beach.
Then tragedy hit my home and I lost my husband and best friend of 20 years - leaving me with 3 kids to finish raising by myself. That left me reeling emotional to say the least - I really was not sure what was going to happen to me.
Time passed and we made additional trips to St. George - I made one with the kids one March - just the 4 of us for the week. There were some tears but we made it !
Time passed and I met a great man and we got married. Well I wanted him to experience St. George with me. We booked a great house - worked it out with all 7 kids schedules and headed out on our 1st new family vacation. Well I had some emotions that I had to over come that week. I tried to keep them inside but my great Father God saw them and he cared for them. I am so thankful for the love of my heavenly Father.
One early morning I headed out on a walk by myself. I love that time to think , pray and daydream. I was so overcome on that walk with how the Lord can heal my heart. I remember thinking about how I would get so excited to see my family in the distance and how that feeling was forever gone. That my heart would leap with just the sight of my children and husband in the distance - I still longed for that.
Well on that walk the morning of July 26, 2017, I felt Gods healing flow into my broken heart. I looked ahead as I was walking back and I thought I saw Tim and Kaitlyn (who was 10 at the time) playing on the beach and my heart was full - when I saw “my people”. That might seem small to some - but to me that marked a change in my whole thinking !!
When I got back to the beach house God showed me Isaiah 55:10-13 You will go out in joy and lead forth in peace. The mountains and hills (and I add ocean) will burst into song before me and all the trees of the fields will clap there hands. In stead of thorn-bush will grow the JUNIPER and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
It might not be over night - but if you allow God to be your healer, I believe that you too can have joy for sadness. The JUNIPER in place of the thorn-bush in your life. Just allow the Jesus the healer to minister to your broken places.
I am always here if you need to talk
XOXO
Jacque