I'm not sure how more than a month has slipped away since the last post. Life, as they say, happens. So if you, friend, have checked here and been disappointed by silence, please forgive me.
At the end of October, my husband and I were able to slip away to the Oregon Coast for some rest and relaxation. Believe me, I had been counting the days for months! On the day we left, however, things did not go as I had planned. Instead of finishing the article on the Byzantines & Muslims for "Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries," I was still gathering up notes and sources to take with me to the beach in order to be able to write the article there -- which took me till noon. Then, we had to load the car, drop a couple things off here and there, meet our son, his wife and our grandson as they journeyed up from California (we sort of met halfway). We were planning to meet our other son on the coast to share dinner as he was helping with the move up to Washington, but time got later and later. We finally did meet, but not on the coast.
My dream of driving to the coast in time to watch the sunset was sadly disappointed -- we got there at 10:00 at night in the rain. In fact, I was disappointed in just about every thing that happened that day. What a way to start a vacation. . . Even the place we were staying (which we had visited before) seemed disappointing that night, since our view was not of the wild and breaking ocean, but of a tame little cove -- and the wild sound and view of the ocean was what I had been looking forward to the most.
I knew that I needed to be thankful for being there, but because I was so disappointed, I couldn't quite bring myself to say, "Thank You," to God. The next morning, sitting outside (in October!) reading Psalm 139, I felt like the Lord was speaking to me about His amazing love and His profound presence in my life. Overwhelmed, I began to thank Him for His goodness -- and at that point, I realized that I could have been honest with Him the night before about my disappointments since He already knew what I was feeling. From that point of honesty and of remembering His love and goodness, it would have been possible to give thanks for the situation and really mean it.
The amazing thing is that later that day, we drove about 15 minutes down the coast, and for the first time in my life, I saw whales while I was standing on land. I must tell you that I've been watching for whales for twenty-three years, and have NEVER seen them from shore before. There were 5 California gray whales, and it was incredible to watch them spouting and diving. . . I saw heads and tails of whales. The next day, looking out at our little tame cove, we suddenly saw 6 harbor seals lying on a rock that had been submerged just a short time before. And within minutes, there were 6 more, for a total of twelve. While the tide was out, those twelve glorious harbor seals went soundly to sleep - in full view of our motel room! And, as I took a few minute break to go outside as the sun was setting, I saw a whale go spouting by right where I was standing!
I don't want to bore you with the details. . .But every day for four days, I saw whales -- every time I went out. And for two days, we saw harbor seals sleeping in our cove. It was at that point that the Lord began to gently speak to my heart that He appoints, He does not disappoint. I had not seen whales from shore before because He had saved that experience for this very special moment.
All of the disappointments of my life suddenly took on an entirely different perspective. If He has withheld, it's because He has something else for me, in the way that Psalm 139 indicates. Psalm 31:19 says (in the Amplified Bible): "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!" Amen.
May your thanksgiving be rich and full of His great goodness. . .And may you too discover in this season of your life how lovingly He has watched over you.
I REALLY needed to hear that very message. I have been waiting for 16 years for this house that is being made. It is TRULY being made "by" God himself. I can't belive how the Lord is provinding EVERYTHING so this house is being made. I also get to give HIM full credit. It is not by our power that this house is coming together. We are having easement issues with our neighbor but it will come together in God's timing. I love how you put it that God saved it for this time. How true that is , thank you once again for sharing that very message. I really needed to hear that. God Bless.
In Him,
for Thanksgiving. Thank you for reminding me - as you often do - of God's unfailing goodness and care for each aspect our lives. I can almost see the whales :) and somehow, as I listen to the wind and the rain outside my window, I am reminded how we must listen for his voice, and we need to be still to do it. Thanks for the example. :)
Extremely happily married since 1979, Bill and Diana Waring home schooled their three children for more than twenty years. The Waring kids were the proving grounds for all the precepts, concepts, and encouragements Bill and Diana teach--the real-life examples of the wonders of home schooling! Now, new grandparents and somewhat empty nesters, Bill & Diana travel all over the world to share the joys of loving learning, honoring one another in the family, and enjoying the journey.
• Nov. 21, 2006 - I am SO glad you visited !
In Him,