I remember an evening in 2008 when I was especially angry. Our oldest son was getting married, and we were to host the rehearsal dinner. To provide more outdoor gathering space at our small home, we decided to build a patio. However, getting the ground level had vexed me, and the deadline was looming. Then the rain came! The future patio became a square of mud. Feeling absolutely deflated, I silently screamed, “Why would God do this to me?” I gave up and went inside.
Five minutes later, the rain stopped. I looked out and couldn’t believe my eyes! Several puddles showed me exactly where I needed to place the remaining fill! In mere minutes, I was able to level the space.
While not a flashy miracle, the gift of puddles was a clear reminder of God’s loving presence in my life. God works in our lives in both big and small ways. Yet, there are no small ways with God.
God’s reasons I was 19 when I had my first retinal hemorrhage. In college on a scholarship with little funds or family support to the point of being hungry many days, I had to miss classes for 2 days to have surgery on the eye. I continued the semester with one patched eye but was able to keep a 3.0 so as not to lose my only hope—that Maryland Scholar scholarship. It resulted in peripheral sight loss in that eye but I could still drive, still perform. Two weeks after my wedding at the age of almost 25 I had another major retinal hemorrhage. Back to surgery and more sight loss, this time losing days of pay from work after finally affording a home. I would eventually be blind in that eye after an optic neuritis as well. The why’s never ended for me. I asked and prayed and was angry. God gave so much to so many and what little I had He was taking away! In 1991 I became pregnant with my 1st son and worked throughout the pregnancy until the day before the preplanned c section with a 12 hour shift on the hospital floors. He went straight to NICU without me even seeing him because the umbilical cord had been wrapped around his neck 3 times. Almost 6 years later, after being told I would be unable to conceive again, I had my 2nd son. Once again with a preplanned c-section the cord was wrapped around his neck. The doctor had warnings this time but it was God’s voice that most affected me. “Child do you see why I took your sight?” Because of the history of vascular issues with my eye I was automatically a preplanned c-section for every birth—no pushing for me. Had I even attempted a normal birth both boys would have died—no question said the doc. Taking my eye sight along with the underlying health problems that caused it, put me at odds with God so very often…and yet He knew that many years down the road it would be the reason 2 little boys lived. He heard prayers I hadn’t even prayed yet. This is my witness to trust, trust He has plans in every single event that happens in your life whether you ever come to know those reasons or not. And thank Him for everything even when we never get to know the why—I’m not at that point yet by far but every “puddle” in every life is waiting to be filled with God’s purpose! Thank you Terence for that reminder to me today!!
Good morning to all the LFF. Found this “Suscipe” Prayer from St Ignatius Loyola in the Sunday Bulletin and wanted to share it with all of you. Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given it all to me. To you, Lord I return it. Everything is yours; to do with what you will. Give me only Your Love and grace, that is enough for me.
AMEN!
Terence thank you for the reminder that we all have puddles in our life at some time. Blessings to all the LFF and for those with additional struggles health or emotional extra prayers. May we all go into the world and spread Gods love.
Thank you????
Amen. :)
Excellent devotion Terence. Thank you. I have to remember to see God's grace even, or especially, in the puddles of life!
Amen.
Terrance your devotion reminds me of the many times that I try to handle situations myself. After getting discouraged and frustrated the small voice of God says try this or do this. I work each day to lean on Him at all times. Thank you all very much for your prayers and support for Cass. She is getting her strength back slowly and is going back to work 2 days this week. Also she will be seeing the Dr this week to make a plan to continue her treatment. We are learning to trust in God's timing and ways. Continue to pray for all those struggling with situations in their lives. Have a blessed day.
Terence, what a beautiful reminder that God’s ways are not our ways. We see it again and again. May God continue to make clear his path for us, even when we doubt it or are angry and frustrated. Continued prayers for Cass, Stephanie and MaryAnne. Also, praying for Karen and her painful treatment today that the side effects are not as hurtful. Amen.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to those in the blizzards in the Western US, those fighting wildfires in Texas and all those suffering in the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, the Sudan, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
A smile came to my lips when I read this. My thought was how many times I became angry with God and in a moment I was able to see what he wanted for me was the best. Thank you Father for always knowing what is best for us all.
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What a sad response from His people, the church-going people, in Luke 4:28, "All the people in the synagogue were very angry when they heard that!" *** What did Jesus say that made them angry? Luke 4:26-27, "But Elijah was not sent to any of those widows. Instead, he was sent to a widow in Zarephath near Sidon. And there were many in Israel who had skin diseases in the days of Elisha the prophet. But not one of them was healed except Naaman the Syrian.”" *** What did Jesus mean? Luke 4:24, "What I’m about to tell you is true,” He continued. “A prophet is not accepted in His hometown!" *** Jesus was telling these church going people that God went to the Gentiles outside of His own people: Elijah to the widow in Zarephath and Elisha to Naaman the Aramean! ******* It makes me think of us in USA! Do we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior on Sundays and ignore Him the other six days? "I know what you did Saturday nights!" Look at the length God went through to save Naaman, a Gentile, amidst his pride and anger! *** A captured Jewish girl had compassion on her master in 2 Kings 5:2-3, "Groups of soldiers from Aram had marched out. They had captured a young girl from Israel. She became a servant of Naaman’s wife. The young girl spoke to the woman she was serving. She said, “I wish my master would go and see the prophet who is in Samaria. He would heal my master of his skin disease.” *** Naaman received favor from his master, the king of Aram, in 2 Kings 5:6, "He carried the letter (form king of Aram) to the king of Israel. It said, “I’m sending my servant Naaman to you with this letter. I want you to heal him of his skin disease.” *** Naaman received advice from his servant in 2 Kings 5:13, "Naaman’s servants went over to him. They said, “You are like a father to us. What if Elisha the prophet had told you to do some great thing? Wouldn’t you have done it? But he only said, ‘Wash yourself. Then you will be pure and “clean.” ’ You should be even more willing to do that!” ******* All glory to God (forgiveness from the captured Jewish girl, king of Aram permission for Naaman to go outside of their religion/tradition, and a servant dared to tell him what to do) in 2 Kings 5:15ab, "Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. Naaman stood in front of Elisha. Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God anywhere in the whole world except in Israel!"