THE SURPRISE ENVELOPE

With cat and dog in hand, they pile out of their van, exhausted and hot but glad to finally have arrived. We welcomed their animals with their own private air conditioned suite, and for the grown ups, a much needed shower with fluffy towels, new cool to the touch pillows, and a mexican buffet with a refreshing lemon cake and vanilla ice cream for dessert. These were our long time friends who we had shared life with while living in our cabin. The conversations were light and joyful to heartfelt needs for prayers. We had walked together through the good times, the bad times, and now our “ golden times” . The next morning we served bacon and blueberry pancakes while continuing our conversations for hours. Finally, it was time for them to leave. We packed up the animals, their suitcases, and prayed our last prayer for each other. And then I saw the envelope. They had already been on the road for awhile, smiling and getty with excitement because they knew what was about to happen. I didn’t read the front of the envelope but instead opened it. I started to count the 20’s…1, 2, 3,4,5…again 1,2,3,4,5 and again and again. I began to panic. They forgot their money!! I was trying to figure out how I could get it back to them while still counting. And then I read the front of the envelope; Gal. 6:2 “ Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. This was not an accident. It was a gift. What I failed to mention is that, in the midst of our late night conversations, I shared how I was going to need eye surgery asap and in the next 30 days I would need the money that I knew we couldn’t come up with. I was going blind in my right eye. I cried when I realized that the money they left was half of what I was going to need for my eye surgery ( as they shared, it is for 1/2 an eyeball!). Kev and I called them and it was a time of great jubilation and gratitude. I don’t know how the other half will come but we just experienced the love and faithfulness of God through the generousity of our dear friends. Are you in a position where you need a miracle? Do you believe God can and will supply it? After being a Christian for over 50 years, I can attest that He DOES provide miracles just when we need them the most…but usually not in the way we would have planned. The miracle may not come in a physical healing but rather in a relationship that was broken. It may not come in the job that meets all your financial goals but instead allows you to see God work when things seem impossible. Whatever your circumstances are, it’s never too hard for God to bring JOY through it all. We are called to “carry each others burden’s so that Christ would be glorified”. If you know of a need of another person who is going through a difficult time, be that one who can help them in a real and tangible way. It will be YOU who gets blessed!! And if you are the person in need, reach out to others for help. Little did I know our friends would even have that kind of money with them..much less that they would give it to us with such JOY. May you all find Gods faithfulness to you in this coming week…