When You Just Don't Get It - Encouragement from Chicklit Power

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and to more of September’s Words of Wisdom and Weapons of Warfare found in the wise book of Proverbs! I pray that as I share a true story full of facets of not understanding that require faith to get through, that your journey with our loving Father is encouraged. Grab your coffee and come on in.
The morning after unloading the truck, my daughter-in-love began to feel a little better, and her tug-of-war with feeling overheated and then chilled with goose-bumps to prove it, as well as nausea had faded off into the distance, though we still insisted she take it easy. And by the end of the third day, we had unburied the kids’ room, organized their closet, dressers, and even hung a couple of nets up for all their stuffed animals. Ye gads, they have so many that I think a life sized hammock would work better! :)
And by the time George and I left, much of what they needed was put away in its new place; home was established. It made saying good-bye a fraction of an inch easier … but oh, was that ever the toughest good-bye I’ve ever had to say.

Don't understand why I have to say good-bye

As it got closer, in hours and then down to minutes, my eyes were a constant faucet. Suddenly all I could think about was no more Monday lunches with my son and granddaughter, and those occasional weekend sleepovers with all of them where we all woke up with laughter and joy in our hearts, ready to embrace the day …. Those are gone, too. Just knowing I couldn’t get in my car and stop by, nor could they, was almost like a panic button on the door of my heart; and I had no idea how I’d get through it.

To complicate my understanding further, filling my eyes even more as I stared at my grand-kids, both of whom I was just building something really sweet, hoping to imprint their hearts in ways that would inspire them as they grow older and wiser, the thoughts kept coming: not being able to pick them up and go to the beach, or wherever, not being able to physically hold them, put their little faces in my hands and look into their sweet eyes, carry on amazing conversations and listen to them … Yes, as the clock turned, the seconds passing by so quickly, our time to leave approached as if to whisk me away. I wished I could stop time and just stay physically there, but I couldn’t.
I kept trying to shake off what felt like a dismal ending, reminding myself that after all, I could visit those truths on the long drive back. I didn’t want anything to do with turning their blessing into a curse! And, yes, I know, now I have a different place to visit; I get all that ... but this is a big change and I will  need my faith fueled by my relationship with my Father to get me thru it.
So instead I soaked up every moment I could, exchanging tears for laughter, hugs and kisses, and as Jeff and Lauren walked us to our car, our last moment made memory was packed with a burst of laughter that carried them all the way back to their apartment!




I didn’t understand why this separation had to take place, but I did know God had ordained it and where He guides, He provides. Please join me 2morrow for more of this month’s WOW!
Faith-ing thru the change,

Evinda

Faith Keeps Us Walking When Understanding Takes a Hike - Part II

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Oh, happy day to you! Thanks for taking the time to stop by for our Coffee Hour and more of our September’s Wow, which is all about keeping the faith, even when you don’t understand the what and why of your circumstances. Grab your coffee and come on in. It’s moving day in Austin, Texas!
As I recall the day we were moving them into their new apartment in Austin, Texas. It was one of those unforgettable God-incidences – not a mere coincidence -- where you knew that you knew that He had ordained everything up to that moment in time.
We had been unloading the truck for a couple of hours, and Lauren, my daughter-in-love, had been in the hot, and I do mean hot, moving truck pushing things to the front and directing the unpacking traffic. She began to suffer from heat exhaustion, unbeknownst to her, but my husband recognized it and got my attention.
I looked up from what I was doing to see him guiding her over to the curb that they shared with their neighbors, and he set her down ever so carefully. “Bring me some paper towels soaked in the ice water from the ice chest.”
Now, the tone in my husband’s voice told me not only was he serious, but he spoke with such an authority I knew something was up, and it wasn’t good. I ran the ice cold paper towels over to them and saw immediately that the color from Lauren’s face had drained and she wasn’t looking so good.
As we began to press the cold paper towels on her neck, her forehead, the color in her face began to come back … but not for long, because when she tried to stand up about fifteen minutes later, the color ran away so fast she nearly collapsed.
George was right there to keep her from falling, but she was complaining of feeling incredibly nauseous so he told her to sit right back down. She did without any argument.
Now before all this with Lauren had started, we met their neighbor Aaron who showed some Texas hospitality right away and jumped right in to help unload the truck. He shared that he and his wife had just moved from Kansas. And I thought we had a long-haul move! He and I began to work together to unload more items from the truck while George stayed with Lauren, and Jeff was in feeding the kids.
After getting her somewhat stable, George decided to take Lauren into the apartment and out of the heat, but again, when she stood, her legs were like wobbly sticks, unable to hold her up completely. Jeff had just come out and when he saw that, he ran to her other side. He and George each took an arm and helped her up and into the apartment while Aaron and I continued working, and talking.
“So did you have to hire movers to get ya’ll out from Kansas to Texas?”
He smiled at my attempt to sound like I was from Texas. “Oh, no, my wife’s company moved us out here.”
I was impressed and didn’t hesitate to ask what his wife did. “She works for Chipotle Restaurants.”
“Get out! Shut the front door!” I exclaimed. He looked almost offended and I quickly added; “That’s why Jeff’s here, because he’s supposed to start working for them”!
“Really?” he asked.
“Yes!” I stopped to set down the heavy dresser we were moving out of the truck. “So what does your wife do?”
He looked almost shy as he responded: “Well, she has 24, or 25 restaurants.”
Again, I didn’t hide my emotion laced with shock and disbelief wrapped up in a knowledge that God was definitely up to something!
He went on to explain she was the district manager and I wondered out loud if this is who Jeff had been dealing with, and asked her name.
“Elsa.”
I’ll be right back; I’ve just got to find out if your wife is his potential boss!”
I ran up the stairs so fast you would have thought I was shot up there through a torpedo machine. “Jeff, Lauren, who is it you’ve been dealing with at Chipotle?”
In unison they bother answered: “Elsa!”
I jumped up and hollered. “Your future boss is your neighbor! Aaron is her husband!” I haven’t been this excited since I don’t know when but let me tell you, I was beside myself in disbelief, comforted by God’s sovereignty. This latest signature on their moving papers went a long way in helping me to surrender my son to Austin Texas … things were going to be just fine … or so I understood!
Join me next week for the conclusion to our monthly WOW!
Faith-ing thru those times of not understanding,

Evinda