Within a two week period of time I have recently witnessed, and have been awestruck, by the love of God as expressed through His unique provision on three separate occasions…
The first was the dawning realization that God was in my neighborhood. It was a rather extraordinary scene. On an extremely hot and humid day, on an ordinary street, in a modest home, God came for a visit.
I had just begun my Saturday morning walk and I was battling the heat with bottled water, paper towels, my portable neck fan and listening to a favorite pastor’s message playing on my cell phone. As I continued down the street I noticed a small gathering of cars parked by a particular house. Initially, I assumed it was a realtor’s open house, as is so often the case as I walk through many neighborhoods.
The street I was on is very long, and before I could reach the place where the initial grouping of cars had parked, more and more cars continued parking anywhere they could find a spot that wasn’t blocking someone’s driveway. That’s when I knew something else entirely was happening—and it wasn’t a yard sale (my second guess) for nothing was set out on the lawn. This had to be a gathering of the bereaved. And so it was…as I finally made my way closer to the end of the street, the unmistakable mark of a minister was just exiting his vehicle.
As I mentioned, the heat and humidity that day was off the charts, but that didn’t stop this elegant black preacher from donning a dark suit and tie. And it didn’t seem to intimidate those mourners, who were determined to bring aid and comfort for one whom they loved. I had already passed the hosting house and knew they were gathering in a very shady backyard, doubling down with sun umbrellas and a platform complete with whirling fans and possibly a microphone.
It was just surreal to me, the many cars that just kept coming and coming, squeezing in wherever they could, even spilling around side streets. What a site this was to behold! I regret so much not taking a picture in order to give you an idea of how impressive this gathering was. Both sides of this lengthy street were covered in cars, and as I said, filling up side streets. If five people managed to show for my own funeral, I would consider it a great honor and blessing!
I have no idea the circumstances of this loss, whether they were young or old, whether this passing was sudden or expected. What I do know for certain is that this person was dearly loved and their presence is sorely missed. What a tribute to a life that touched so many and what a great comfort from those that are surrounding a family so bereaved. Yes, God was indeed present in that gathering. He draws especially near when our hearts are awash in tears and our bruised and weary souls have sustained the burden of mourning.
The second provision of God that I happened upon was just as unexpected. While I was strolling my granddaughter around her neighborhood, something on the ground caught my eye. It looked really cool and I realized I had never seen this before. (Interesting that I saw another one in my own neighborhood just a few days later.)
It was so simple and ordinary, yet at the same time so profound in its reach. As pictured above, it was a dead and fallen magnolia leaf. It’s edges have become so dry they are curled inward, making it a perfect receptacle for rainwater, for it is filled to the brim! Why was this so eye-catching and thought provoking for me? There are two reasons…
A few years back, during the height of COVID, I was working at a Senior Living Community. They had some of us stationed at a guardhouse at the entrance in order to perform health screenings for staff and vendors and to keep the premises secure for lockdown. I was outside a lot (in every weather imaginable) but I loved it when the weather was warm!
Me being me, it gave me the opportunity to feed the little woodland creatures that would run across my path. Namely, squirrels and chipmunks. I had them trained in no time and they would come very close to me for their food, even following me up to the guardhouse. I remember wondering where they got their water supply and googled it—rainwater.
As soon as I saw that little “gravy boat” of water on the side of the road, I knew that God was in the details, using His ever-present resources for a multitude of benefits!
I also thought about what that dead, dry leaf represents for us, God’s people. God can take anyone who is dead in their trespasses and restore them to new life. In their dusty, dry-cracked, thirsting voice they cry out—and He saturates them with living water, so that they will never be thirsty again.
Laying right there at my feet, on that routine stroll, on an otherwise nondescript day, was the unmistakable hand of God. Water for creatures both great and small; human and animal. Normally, when we thank God for the necessary rain, we’re thinking of plants and trees and crops. But there is so much more at work in those precious drops of water—and greater still, in those precious drops of blood.
My third witness of God’s movement involves another death, but one as different from the first story, as the night is different from the day. There was no parade of cars, no formal gathering that I am aware of.
A new friend of mine, a committed sister in Christ, had just received word that her mother had passed away. Without knowing the details—and not needing to—along with the news we were made aware that this loss was…different. It seemed there may have been a long-standing separation, an estrangement of sorts. So the normal reactions associated with this news were atypical for them. It was a loss met with at least a certain amount of ambiguity. There seemed to be no words to describe what she and her sister were feeling.
How sad to think that her experience of family was anything less than it should have been. Unfortunately, they are far from alone. Sometimes we inherit the pain of those who should love and care for us the most. In the passing down of pain from a parent’s brokenness, children have paid a dear price. But there is courage, strength and comfort to be found in the One who has paid the dearest price of all, in order to bind up our wounds and to make it well with our soul.
We are the sons and daughters, the children of God. We are His family, His offspring, first and foremost. God speaks plainly and often of His preferential treatment for widows, orphans, and fatherless children. Why does He do this? Because God instituted the family unit from the very beginning. It is a sacred bond, to be honored and revered in the sight of the Lord. He blessed it with prayer, enacting its means of continuation.
Our Father who created us knows what we need. Jesus, our Bridegroom, knows the widow’s caretaking needs, and a child’s inmost need of loving and nurturing parents. Jesus has spoken of His longing to gather us, as a mother hen gathers her brood, under her wing. You see, there really is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God…It’s under His wing, under His protective wing.
Our Eternal Father is the one and only blueprint for human parenting. And if that is not a child’s experience in this world, He, Himself takes over the reigns of parenting. He comforts and attends to us by bringing all sorts of people into our lives as surrogates that will love and protect us; that will bring opportunities to embolden us, and to cheer us on! There are too many stories of children rising out of desperate situations, and going on to succeed mightily in their lives, for this not to be so. We call and God answers, by calling others to respond. Here are just a few scant examples…
*There was a little boy whose mother drove him downtown and left him on a street corner. A church body took him in and shared the child-rearing responsibilities. Today he is an Episcopal Bishop.
*There was a young boy living on the streets and running wild because his parents were both killed. Today he is a man of deep faith and coaches college football—but his real ministry is coaching kids.
*There are groups of women who have created a ministry of visiting girls in strip clubs and leading them to a better life in Christ.
*I just saw a Facebook post the other day of a gentleman that has formed a club for young fatherless boys to teach them proper manners and the graces of life. Suit required, and is provided if they do not have one.
*My own brother, now deceased, was an appellate court judge. Aside from golf, over the years he developed a real love of magic—he actually became quite accomplished. His favorite days of the year were those he spent holding free performances for children of incarcerated parents. It brought him so much joy!
In these examples, and so many, many more, God is making known to others their true worth in His eyes. God wants them to know they have a heavenly family: a Father who loves and cares for them more than they can possibly imagine; and a Savior who sticks closer to them than a brother. Only God can heal the scars in the deep down wounds of our soul. He takes our woundedness, our pain, and turns it inside out—literally!
The hurt we hold within, He heals, and then uses those experiences to bind up the hurts of others. He uses the pain of our past and turns it into the most magnificent gift. He uniquely equips us to live full, impassioned lives and to assist others who may be suffering our own infirmities. Burying the past will not heal us, but allowing God to enter into our suffering gives wings to our past and we can soar like the eagles, triumphant along life’s journeys! As we continually grow in spiritual wisdom and maturity, we are uniquely positioned to help and encourage others.
We often hear the phrase, “Our past does not define us”. While it may not “define us”, it will always remain a part of our story. It can actually become a great launching pad, helping to shape and define who we are, and who we don’t want to become; where we’ve been, and what direction we want to be going. When we endure hardship, it can sift and mold and meld us into the status of overcomers. For when we are at our weakest, then we are strong. That is the mark of God upon us—intimately at work in our lives!
We live and move and have our being because God has breathed love into our lives. God kisses our lives with such tenderness and beauty and imagination and inspiration and love. He fills in the cracks of our brokenness. Where there is lack, He supplies. In our troubled or nonexistent relationships, wherever there should have been love, but wasn’t, He offers us His perfect love, and fills us with a worthiness of that love deep down inside of us. Our cups runneth over with the goodness and mercy of God’s grace which is continually filling and spilling all over us!
As for my friend, sorrowfully, the finality of death means never having the opportunity to receive the peace of reconciliation from the one who has hurt us. Knowing her, she more than likely made peace with it in her heart many years ago. She is a very strong presence in the lives of many, she is gifted in so many ways—she is loving, caring, creative, protective, humorous and very accomplished! Her life soars, like the eagles I mentioned. Yet, she has acknowledged that our prayers and support have been a strong undergirding for her in this unexpected event in her life. No matter how strong and gifted we may be, we still need the prayers of those who will love us through the dark corners of our lives.
God was at a funeral service…God was in a water filled leaf…God was in the midst of a strange and bewildering loss…
In the sometimes grand, sometimes small, and always questioning circumstances of our lives, God is there: before, during, and in the aftermath of all that transpires in our lives.
Where have you seen God at work this past week, month, or year? Remember and be thankful. We must always live with a sense of expectation—not just at Advent, but every day, in every season. God is always on the move, actively involved in our lives. We don’t want to miss the whispers of truth God is wanting to wrap around our hearts. The omnipresent heartbeat of God in our lives is speaking revelation everyday through the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is listen, observe, respond and give Him glory.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness; Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord—unto the broken and healed, even unto chipmunks and squirrels…
Hallelujah!
Would love to hear your stories! Send me an email anytime: wendy@firstthingsfirst.site