Craggy Thanksgiving

Craggy Thanksgiving

We went to Asheville, North Carolina for Thanksgiving. While there, we drove up to Craggy Gardens off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I've had a love affair with the mountains for most of my adult life. There's nowhere else that I feel God's peace and a part of his great creation then in a remote mountain setting. Once up there I told my family I would stay back and enjoy the view while they hiked to the top of Craggy. It's only a 1.4 mile hike roundtrip. I wouldn't have to wait long. But my husband insisted that I was going to the top.

I stumbled a few feet and said "no, that's okay, you guys go ahead." My husband Greg then took charge and told my seventeen year old son Galen to get on one side of me while he got on the other. He had me put my arms around each of their necks and they grasped hands below my knees and hoisted me up. They began to walk up the trail, with me in tow. The trail had all of the usual obstacles: slippery rocks, ledges, roots and puddles. I was nervous that they might get hurt or maybe they would fall or wouldn't be able to keep going or even worse, might drop me. Greg told me it was fine. We laughed along the way. They took short breaks and I stumbled a few feet holding on to whoever or whatever was closest to me. I don't get far before my limp leg trips me up or my lack of balance sends me falling. One time, after they put me down, my son fell a little and then I fell on top of him and I was laughing so hard I couldn't get up. He was pinned against the ground.

The sun was going down and the alpenglow on the surrounding mountains was beautiful. During one long section of being carried I thought about how the Lord works in mysterious ways. For years, my prayer has been to be healed so I can walk up mountains again. I've tried a plethora of medical treatments, alternative treatments and diets. I don't understand God's timing. But we're not really supposed to understand. We just need to trust. Healing can mean many things. That day, there was a healing of the heart. Me, independent Marjorie, I let my husband and son carry me to the top of Craggy. It was pretty amazing.

Once to the top, we got a few pictures and soaked in the vast beauty. Life circumstances have been beating me down lately. In the past, when life got hard, I was re-fueled by getting up to the mountains. I don't get that re-fueling much these days. But I did this day, this day of Thanksgiving.

Oh wait, the beautiful sunset also meant it was getting dark and we still had to get down the mountain. We had to get moving. About half way down, we saw a large puddle and Greg thought it was the parking lot down below. We were surprised and hopeful to almost be there. Once we realized it was a puddle, we all laughed. Greg gave Galen a head lamp and we kept going. We made it back to the van safely. My boys carried me 1.4 miles. I gave Galen a big hug and thanked my husband for his confidence.

I had a lot to be thankful for that day. I will cherish that memory forever.