My Sand Dollar Story (Jeremiah 29:13, John 20:29)

Every year,  George and I try to take a trip to Orange Beach to get away from the cares of life and get some much-needed rest and relaxation.  We usually don't plan a lot of activities.  We just walk along the beach twice a day, once in the morning and again at sunset, picking up shells as the water washes over our feet in the coolness of the afternoon. 

It was one of these wonderful afternoons as we were walking along the beach, that an older couple came walking toward us.  As she passed, she said a quick hello, continuing on her way.  Her husband was walking a few yards behind her, but as he approached, he stopped and asked, "Have you found any sand dollars?" George and I explained that we had found a few small ones near our hotel. The man continued, "If you want to find some, I'll tell you where they are!" We listened as he said, "Drive about three miles down the road, turn right, and go half a mile. After you park and walk onto the beach, turn left, and you'll find sand dollars." After thanking him, we continued on our way. We didn't give it much thought, chuckling to ourselves. Having grown up in Florida, we both knew that at times, you will find shells on the beach, and at other times, you won't. It's not usually predictable.

The next day after supper, we were driving back to our hotel when George asked, "Would you want to go check out the beach where the sand dollars are?"  Again, I laughed but said maybe it would be a nice beach to walk on and watch the sun set.  We followed the man's directions down an isolated road. Soon, we came to the end, found a place to park, and  walked out onto the beach. We turned to the left as the man had instructed. George decided to walk in the water. I stayed higher on the beach, looking among some broken shells and debris, but I saw no sand dollars. 

After a while, a young woman jogged past us on the beach. I watched as she ran about 100 feet ahead, stopped, and picked something up from the sand. She ran a little further, stopped again, and picked up something else. Curiosity took over. The thought flashed through my mind, "She's getting my sand dollars!" I quickened my pace and went to where I thought she had stopped. I looked intently at the sand but saw nothing but broken shells and seaweed. I decided the older gentleman must have been mistaken. If sand dollars had been there for him, they were not here now.

The young woman ran out of sight, and I continued to search for what I now believed were nonexistent sand dollars. I picked up a few shells here and there and George continued walking, in the water, falling further behind me. 

The sun was setting, so I decided that we should probably start heading back to our car. Just before turning back, I saw the young woman running towards me. This time, her shirt was folded up, as if she were carrying something in it. She ran right up to me and stopped. She asked, "Have you found any sand dollars?" I signed deeply and said, "No, I have not." I found this interesting that I had been asked this question two days in a row. "Would your little boy like these?" she asked. I stood amazed as she unfolded her shirt and it was filled with sand dollars. I turned to look where she was pointing. There was no one else on the beach except  George, in the distance, ankle-deep in the water, holding a blue bucket as he continued looking for shells. I had to laugh because George really did look like a little boy in the water. I explained that he was my husband, but we would appreciate the sand dollars. I asked, "Where did you find them?"

"They are here," she said, pointing to the sand. "They are everywhere; you just have to really look for them," she finished, placing the sand dollars in my bucket, and for the first time that day, I truly believed. As she ran on down the beach, I turned to head back down the beach, retracing my steps. I now started seeing what I had missed before. I saw sand dollars! They were there among the debris, broken shells, and seaweed! I had to look intently, but they were there! They had been there all along. I now believed!

It struck me how much of a difference belief can make. Sometimes life's clutter can obscure our view of God's presence, but He's always at work in our lives. I encourage you to look for those God moments in your daily life – they're everywhere.