Trust in the Lord and be Blessed
Today was one of those days where all the pieces seemed to fall into place. I mean all the pieces. My back felt the best it has in weeks; we finally found a new hire at work that we have been seeking for months; the final documents needed for our new home all came in today; and the girls cleared all the items needed to get enrolled in their new school. Days like today are rare and deserve to be fully appreciated. Throughout this moving process I have spent countless hours in thoughtful prayer wondering if we are doing the right thing. Questioning if the timing is best for the girls, for the family. Today was full of affirmations as doors flew open that we are on the right path. I’ve shared that Proverbs is often my go to for quick words of wisdom and guidance. This verse seemed fitting, “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (Proverbs 16:20, NIV).
Kindness is the theme this week
Rob and I traveled to see the great Luke Kuechly inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We have been so excited about this trip and I was not going to let back pain keep me from going. I managed to make additional therapy appointments and stayed on top of all my exercises to get to the point where I could at least participate in all the events. Thankfully, the plane ride was short and each of the events have given me the opportunity to stretch and move around. When we arrived at our hotel with our group, it became evident that they were not ready for our large numbers and struggled to get us rooms. The next morning, we were supposed to have a free breakfast but that did not work out and the poor lady at the counter was not prepared for the large volume of people all coming at the same time since we had to catch the bus for our first event. Rob and I just smiled and were understanding. We thanked her for all she did and said we hoped her day would get better. This morning, we had a similar issue and the same woman was doing her best to keep up with all of us. Same as yesterday, we treated her with kindness even though frustrations were high all around. As I took my wallet out to pay, she used a coupon and gave us our breakfast for free. I shared earlier this week in the blog titled “A kind word or gesture goes a long way towards healing” that God calls us to be kind to others, not for what we can expect in return, but because God calls us to love all His children. This week I have been reminded that in times of stress, when things are difficult, and even when in pain, a gentle word goes a long way to calming any situation. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV) I can’t help but wonder, how would these two days been different if I let anger or frustration rule the day, versus being patient and kind. How would the lady at the counter greeted me the next morning if I had yelled at her for circumstances beyond her control? We have a choice in how we respond, God calls us to lead with love (lwl).