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Providential: involving divine foresight or intervention
: God’s providential care for each of us.
Many years ago, long before Ellie, I took the boys to visit the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC. We drove out early in the morning, the car loaded with snacks, CDs, and toys. Once there, we toured the mansion and ran around on the grounds (I never know if that's frowned upon, but those wide open lawns and mazes are so inviting). We took silly pictures of each other. Simply put, I had a great day with my boys.
We returned to the car, all ready to head home. I got in and turned on the air conditioning. The boys hopped into the back and settled into their seats. "All buckled?" I chimed.
"NO. I can't get my buckle to snap." Ben was quite frustrated.
I got out with a heavy sigh and opened the back door, planning to snap his seatbelt in with a determined flourish. It wouldn't snap in. I looked at the buckle, and how? why? I don't know, but something possessed my son to shove a piece of paper into the belt. No wonder it wouldn't latch.
I couldn't pry it out with my key. I tried. I couldn't pry it out with a pencil tip or a pen. I couldn't keep my cool -- and I got pretty flustered.
I told the boys to get out and sit on the curb. (For some reason, when I'm mad, I like to be alone.) I called my husband - at the time my cell phone reception was spotty. We had trouble communicating. I emptied the glove box... "Please, let there be something useful in here," I begged to no one in particular.
The boys sat. Like the little stone statues we'd seen at the mansion, they didn't move. Or say a word.
Then, I finally (I can be really, really slow to do the right thing), I went over to the boys and told them I wasn't quite sure how to fix it and suggested we pray.
Within minutes, a couple from our church (about 4 hours east of Asheville) walked across the parking lot right past my car. I filled them in on our situation. The husband pulled out his utility knife, flipped it open to the tweezers, walked over to the car and pulled the paper from the belt buckle, just like that.
Relief flooded over me. Right there, in a nearly empty parking lot, God sent friends with the right tools to rescue me. You know, God does that all the time! He sends a word of comfort or peace through the Holy Spirit. He sends a hug when I feel lonely. He uses my pastor to preach a sermon I needed to hear to move forward in life. God is always on time! He is never late! He never forgets.
When I find it (that's becoming a theme on Memorial Box Monday), I will put a picture of my kids and me in front of the Biltmore Mansion in my memorial box. I forget so easily that God is always on time... this memory, preserved forever, will help me remember that He cares for me.
If you don't know what Memorial Box Monday is, it all started here: "A Place Called Simplicity." A friend of mine introduced me to it, and I love it! love it! love it!!! Memorial Box Monday provides an opportunity to remember all the good things God has done. Huge, gigantic things and little things that might seem insignificant. God's word is clear: "Cast every care on Me, for I care for you." (1 Peter 5:7).
"NO. I can't get my buckle to snap." Ben was quite frustrated.
I got out with a heavy sigh and opened the back door, planning to snap his seatbelt in with a determined flourish. It wouldn't snap in. I looked at the buckle, and how? why? I don't know, but something possessed my son to shove a piece of paper into the belt. No wonder it wouldn't latch.
I couldn't pry it out with my key. I tried. I couldn't pry it out with a pencil tip or a pen. I couldn't keep my cool -- and I got pretty flustered.
I told the boys to get out and sit on the curb. (For some reason, when I'm mad, I like to be alone.) I called my husband - at the time my cell phone reception was spotty. We had trouble communicating. I emptied the glove box... "Please, let there be something useful in here," I begged to no one in particular.
The boys sat. Like the little stone statues we'd seen at the mansion, they didn't move. Or say a word.
Then, I finally (I can be really, really slow to do the right thing), I went over to the boys and told them I wasn't quite sure how to fix it and suggested we pray.
Within minutes, a couple from our church (about 4 hours east of Asheville) walked across the parking lot right past my car. I filled them in on our situation. The husband pulled out his utility knife, flipped it open to the tweezers, walked over to the car and pulled the paper from the belt buckle, just like that.
Relief flooded over me. Right there, in a nearly empty parking lot, God sent friends with the right tools to rescue me. You know, God does that all the time! He sends a word of comfort or peace through the Holy Spirit. He sends a hug when I feel lonely. He uses my pastor to preach a sermon I needed to hear to move forward in life. God is always on time! He is never late! He never forgets.
When I find it (that's becoming a theme on Memorial Box Monday), I will put a picture of my kids and me in front of the Biltmore Mansion in my memorial box. I forget so easily that God is always on time... this memory, preserved forever, will help me remember that He cares for me.
If you don't know what Memorial Box Monday is, it all started here: "A Place Called Simplicity." A friend of mine introduced me to it, and I love it! love it! love it!!! Memorial Box Monday provides an opportunity to remember all the good things God has done. Huge, gigantic things and little things that might seem insignificant. God's word is clear: "Cast every care on Me, for I care for you." (1 Peter 5:7).
5 comments:
Thank you for sharing. God is good all the time. Even when we are slow to go there;)
God does indeed send just what we need just when we need it...or when we slow down enough to ask.
BTW, we have an Ellie, too!
Blessings from south Georgia,
Robbie
love it! GOD is too good. and that's true :))
Ahhh, the power of prayer! I love when God moves after we pray....so cool..thank you for sharing!!
Amazing article. I’ve been reading contents on internet for many days but to tell the truth I never got so fascinating post to read out similar to this one.And yes i have tweeted your site karendawkins.blogspot.com
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