What a Father we have!
I can’t tell you how many times the Lord has opened doors for us to share Him with others. Sounds like a story, doesn’t it.
Well, yes, it is. My writing for the “word” usually deals with life experiences that happen to both Guyla and me. This is another one.
Wednesday of last week was a really busy day. We had projects, commitments, unexpected challenges, and just a plethora of things that needed to be handled and there wasn’t enough time in the day to get them done.
Our grandson Jordan is with us for a time this summer, and even though we have a busy schedule, that has been a blessing. However, it does add a bit more confusion to the program. I will say that with him here, we have knocked out a few projects that were on my “Honey Do” list. Praise the Lord!
Enough trivia. The story begins.
My son, Kris, has three children. Two of them are Jordan’s age and are involved in their church youth group on Wednesday evening. They called us and asked if Jordan could go to group and spend the night at their house. The day was already packed and that put another item on the schedule, but after weighing the idea it sounded like a great program, even if it took an hour to get him there. We made the trip to the kid’s house, dropped Jordan off and headed home. On the way home I thought of something that I had wanted to do for Jordan but couldn’t because it was to be a surprise for him, and he was with me most of the time. The Lord had opened the door for me to get it done. Jordan was at his cousin’s house for the night. Wow, Lord, even the small things you take care of. Thanks!
Mission accomplished!
As we got back into the car, I asked Guyla if she needed to stop anywhere before we headed home, and she said, “You could buy me an ice cream.” It was the end of the day, dinner was over, and we were headed home to crash. Why not? We headed to the mall and Baskin Robbins for her ice cream.
With ice cream in hand, we walked out of the mall, and as is our routine, our hands joined, and we walked toward the car. Hand in hand. Coming toward us as we walked was an older man, who said, “Newlyweds, huh?”
Guyla retorted, “Yes, sixty years ago.”
He stopped, looked at us with a perplexed look on his face and said, “Sixty years ago?”
I said, “Yes, sixty years ago.”
“To the same woman?” he asked.
“Yes, to the same woman.”
Guyla said, “To the same man!”
His next comment was, “I once knew some folks that were married for fifty-three years, but never heard of anyone married sixty years. You two must be Christians!”
I responded with a hearty “Amen, brother.”
His response was another hearty “AMEN, brother!” He was a Christian, too. We talked for a while, and as we parted ways, we shook hands. As Guyla and I climbed into the car, we realized how God had put him in front of us as a means of showing us that He is in control of our days. If we follow His leadership, there are glimpses of His love for us. We needed what that man offered as we talked. That man being there and his being a brother in the Lord was orchestrated by the Lord as a refresher for us to the hectic day we had just walked through.
The ending was a silent “Thank You, Lord!” for the way you care for us, even when we think differently!
From the Phillips Translation. 1 Peter 5:6-7
So, humble yourselves under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.
Ed Johanson