Since I was very little my father would tell us a story about a time that I hardly remember (as I was too young to remember those days) but it is a story I loved being told again and again. I am now going to retell it to you...
"There once was a man and a woman who were young and in love (my parents) who had three small children (my sisters and I) whom they loved. This man and women both worked very hard as teachers and did honest and good work, but they did not have much money or possessions as they worked for very little pay. It wasn't uncommon for them to be short of money but they had faith that God would take care of them. One morning, however, before church this man and woman didn't have any food left in their fridge or cupboards and though when asked what they did for that morning meal, it is still unknown as to what they fed themselves and their kids. They head off to church, though the man knew he was going to have to pawn off the scarce things that they did have so that they could buy a few meals for the next few days. Once the church service was over, the Sawatsky family headed home and were desperate. What were they going to do? What could they do? The mother went to the fridge hoping that they might have glanced over something that would be edible and, there, right in front of her eyes was a crisp $200.00. No note, no explanation, but the man and woman knew that God was taking care of them through thick and thin and that they would not take what happened to them lightly. They still to this day don't know the person or persons who gave them the money to them."
This story, as I said before, is a story I love so much about God's provision and love for my family and His grace. I also remember thinking that I too wanted a story like this to be able to my children one day about how God provided for Adam and I when we were in dire need.
That day came, and we ourselves now have a refrigerator story. Adam and I had just come out of church and headed for the car to go home and we spotted an envelope on our windshield. I took it from it's spot and we opened it in the car together. The envelope included quite a large sum of money that was the exact amount we needed for a bill we had and no note from who it was. It was such a humbling moment as Adam and I looked at each other and as I cried and as Adam prayed a thanks. We aren't too public about our needs and we definitely don't proclaim that we weren't doing well, but that made it all the more special.God laid it on someone (or a few people) to give to us what we didn't have and it blessed us more than just a bill being paid off. It was a reminder of His grace and His love for us and that though we struggle, His hand is lifting us up.
When Adam and I got engaged we had quite a few people saying that we should wait until we were more stable financially. I remember such words as we got nervous as we crunched numbers together and took on extra work knowing that whenever people start off it is hard. I had an agenda to prove that Adam and I could do this on our own, and humbly now I can say that indeed that I was lying to myself. We have only gotten through these last few months with His leading and others listening and being there for us. How much this little heart of mine has learned in these last 8 months! How my heart feels as though it could burst with the care He has taken to give my soft soul some more lessons.
As I write this again I am crying because He takes care of His children so well. Though we have hard times, (and are in the midst of hard times) He gives and gives and gives. He gives hope, He gives purpose, He gives life, He gives us renewal. We are stable in Him and our pride is legitimate once we give it back to God.
I had to write about this because I want to remember, when I forget, that His hand is always lifting us up. Trials aren't bad when we can see the teaching that they bring us. Being stable is something we have no control over in the long run anyway. Our lives are meant to bring glory to Him and nothing else.
Your red rimmed eyed hippy,
Summer
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