I know that I really shouldn’t be surprised, but it always amazes me how God seems to use all of the big AND little things in my life to create the perfect “quilt” in my life.
Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Lately, God has used circumstances in my own life to remind me of that simple fact.
My husband and I put our house on the market in February and he took an apartment an hour and a half away in order to begin a new job. I stayed behind to wait for the house to sell. Everyone kept telling us, “It will sell in no time! You have updated it and the location is great!” Nevertheless, here I sit in September with not a single person having come to do a walk through, much less purchase it.
In April, out of the blue, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Though he is in his mid-70’s his health has been relatively good for a man of his age. Therefore, it surprised us when he faced 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments and I found myself transporting him back and forth to the treatments 3 days each week.
It was during this time that I had the realization that if our house had sold as quickly as everyone expected, it would have been much more difficult for me to help my parents in their time of need. Though I was disappointed and a bit depressed to be separated from my husband for so long, I also knew that this was just God’s way of making sure my parents had the help and support they needed.
God has been involved in even something so small as a new pup.
My daughter was married in mid-August. I had become very attached to her Maltese pup, having taken care of it for the four years my daughter was away at college. With both my daughter and son leaving home and my husband going away to his new job I knew that I would be facing a VERY empty home since the pup would now be moving with my daughter and son-in-law.
It was just at this time that I mentioned to a fellow teacher that I really liked Yorkies and would love to have one. Within a week or so, I received a message from her saying that her own Yorkie dog has unexpectedly become pregnant and would likely be having pups in late summer or early fall. Did I want one? YES! Absolutely!
My daughter and son-in-law returned from their honeymoon on August 24 and I took her Maltese to her on August 31. On September 5, I picked up my brand new puppy. Having that companionship this week has been a wonderful experience, in contrast to what a silent house might have been like. I have no doubt in my mind that God’s hand was involved in all of this. I can just picture him there weaving all of the little details together to create the perfect tapestry to help me tolerate this time alone.
I do not always understand God’s plan. Sometimes I do not even recognize it until I pause for just a bit to actually focus on things. Yet I have come to realize that I should never forget that he IS there- working in the background of my life to create exactly what HE has planned for me!
Renewal and Refuge 