Each new day is a gift from God. It’s up to us to determine how we will use the gift. Today was one of those days that caused me to realize just how blessed I am to be where I am and to be doing what I am doing.
I’m currently in a very unique stage of life right now. Last month marked the first time I’ve lived at my parent’s home for an extended period of time since I finished high school and became involved in a Christian ministry nine years ago. I had a lot of responsibilities and felt my involvement was making a difference, the friends I had there were great, and I formed many happy memories there. In fact, I’d say this past year was the best year of my life, hands down. However, I chose to move on from all that and come home, not knowing exactly what I would be doing next but knowing that God wanted to bring our family together again.
While I’ve been home, I’ve been able to connect with my parents on a level that hasn’t been there when I just popped in for a few weeks over seasonal breaks and holidays. Dad and I have had time to be together, just the two of us going out for ice cream or going out to a ball game. The other day, we dug out one of his old storage trunks and started going through his childhood coin collections that his dad got him started on. Mom has been busy with teaching, but we’ve still had time for bonding through special outings like bike rides or even the simple things like helping out in the kitchen. One of the things we’ve done together is sing in the church choir. We got there early for practice one time, and as we were conversing with one of the other choir members, he found out I am still looking for employment. The next day he called me up and asked if I would like to work with him and his assistant on some home-improvement projects he had lined up for the week. Out of the blue God provided work for me to do, and it came because I was willing to honor my parents!
Working for a professional handy-man, I’ve picked up on a lot of techniques and skills that should serve me well down the road. Attention to detail is key! At this point, he’s had work for me to do every day since first asking me to join him a few weeks ago, with the exception for today (the forecast called for rain, so his outdoor projects were put on hold). However, this gave me time at home to fix a few things around the house and time during business hours to take my résumé and go do some PR for myself around town. Dad went with me to the various places and even treated me to an ice cream cone while we were downtown Midland. I don’t know what will come of these job-search efforts, but it is encouraging to know that God has a plan for my life, and it is a good plan—one that even I could not dream up.
That brings be back to today. The forecast (like I mentioned earlier) called for rain, and the rain started to fall shortly after we were done with dinner. It was so beautiful out, though, with the setting sun dropping behind the clouds, we decided that our family bike ride was not going to be rained out this evening! On our ride, the sky lit up with the orange glow of the sunset, the clouds reflected a warm, pink glow, and God painted a huge rainbow overhead. As I was crossing over a pedestrian bridge in the park where the creek meets the river, a beautiful blue heron was taking flight above the water, and just down the way, two fat blue jays happily hopped about after a nice meal. After the bike ride, we all gathered on the porch and had a time for family devotions, learning from Dr. Guthrie’s lessons on sheep. The day wasn’t over though until I had played the hymns on the piano that have been on my heart lately. Dad sat and listened for a while as I played, and in the middle of the music, Mom paid me the highest compliment ever just for being me. I am so grateful to be living these days at home with my family and having a chance to support each other in various ways that can’t easily be done from a distance. God knows.
