God challenged Elizabeth and me quite a bit last week; it’s funny how little things can get to you when they happen at the wrong time.
Our car broke down on our way back from the doggy beach where we enjoyed a beautiful sunset with Diggitty and Maxi, our two beloved canine companions. We try and take the pups out for a relaxing swim now and then, this proved to be quite the hectic night!
The car stalled in the middle of nowhere and forced us to push it out of the way. The fact Liz is more than 8 months pregnant forced me to do most the pushing while she did most of the driving. Sure it was only a few yards but wearing flip flops, it seemed more like 20 miles!
Of course, this was the first night in months I left the cellular phone at home so getting a cab ride home also proved to be a challenge considering the fact we had two full size wet dogs with us.
Make this a Friday night affair and you’ve got tow truck issues as well.
Of course, this being the weekend, good luck trying to get the car fixed in time for work on Monday!
Through it all, Elizabeth kept smiling and behaving peacefully as if she knew everything was going to be all right. On the other hand, I stressed quite a bit and almost forgot all this wasn’t such a big deal.
Elizabeth reminded me this wasn’t the end of the world and that it was up to us to read through what was happening and try see what we were supposed to learn from all this.
At that time, I was reminded of a story I read about this 92 year old Christian woman who was legally blind. After her husband of 70 years died, it became necessary for her to go to a nursing home where she could receive proper care.
On the day of the move, a helpful neighbor drove her there and guided her into the lobby. Her room wasn’t ready, so she waited patiently in the lobby for several hours.
When an attendant finally came for her, she smiled sweetly as she maneuvered her walker to the elevator.
In the elevator, the staff member described her room to her, including the new curtains that had been hung in the windows.
“I love it,” she says.
“But Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen your room yet,” the attendant replied.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she said. “Happiness is something you choose. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how it’s arranged. It’s how I arrange my mind!”
When our car broke down, Elizabeth arranged her mind and found peace in prayer knowing the Lord would see us through the challenges laid before us.
We all have a lot to learn from her reaction to this minute event and should always look to God to help us through small chain reactions which seem much larger than they really are.
Within one day, with God’s guidance and the generosity of Stephan, a long time friend, our car was back logging miles on Florida highways.
We’re not quite sure what lesson we were supposed to learn from last weekend, but we are sure of one thing: God loves us and our friend Stephan is one amazing guy!
I hope you won’t let small things keep you from happiness instead, always remember happiness is within you.
Let’s pray!
Father God;
We thank you for your blessings in our lives
And for the challenges you lay before us
Which make us stronger in Faith
And drive us to see through the little things.
Lord father we ask that you continue to look over us
Our friends and our families,
And guide us to help one another
In challenging times when we are in need.
We pray you will inspire those in need
To walk in your footsteps and be more like you,
And ask you to continue putting us to work for you
Fulfilling our mission in this life.
God we love you and thank you for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
