Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Provision Beyond Our View

As it turns out, I really do believe we were meant to be at E’s on Monday night and Tuesday. First, we already needed to take our belongings to the storage unit on Tuesday, which happened to be near her house. It was also Oma–Papa and W day, so we were able to care for the kids in the morning and allow E to sleep in. Later, we took care of M while little A and W were at school, which gave E the time and space she needed to sort through a large batch of children’s clothes she had just gotten back from a friend—before we needed to pick the kids up from school.

Overall, it truly was a blessing for both of us that we were there.

While we were at the storage unit Tuesday morning, Marteen called again to check on us. She has been so concerned about where we would end up. Ever since we moved from Fuquay, she has been offering her home to us, but the Lord had always provided other places, so we hadn’t needed to stay there. This time, she offered—and this time, we were able to accept.

So now we are staying at Marteen’s house until D and L’s home becomes available. What made it even more special was that it was “Marteen’s day” anyway for me, so I got to spend the entire day with her. Thank You, Lord, for Your provision and Your perfect timing. 🙂

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Insert – Linda (2023 Reflection)

In January of 2010, we received an email from a friend that was especially meaningful. Here it is:

Hey dear friend,

So nice to see you, if only briefly today…

I also wanted to tell both you and Tom something the Lord put on my heart the day we met together. I had intended to share it with you the next time I saw you in person, but we haven’t had that opportunity.

When you shared the story about arriving at Labor Day with no place to stay, I was instantly reminded that the Lord had placed it on my heart to offer my home to the two of you while I visited a friend. I dismissed the idea because I was only going to be gone a few days and didn’t think it would really help. Based on your story, the day the Lord gave you other provision was the very day I returned. The Lord’s timing is perfect.

The Lord has forgiven me for dismissing His leading, but I need to ask you and Tom to do the same. It was especially important for Tom to know this, as he felt the Lord had not come through—when instead, it was I who didn’t follow through on what the Lord asked of me.

I know the Lord used you in E’s life during that time, and He always makes provision. But it was a poignant lesson for me that I don’t have to figure out how to do more than the Lord asks—just to listen and obey what He says to do.

Love to you both. I’m so glad you were there to share in my re-baptism, and I look forward to the next opportunity to be together.

Blessings,
BS

How incredible is that? This story wasn’t just for us—it was for so many others in our lives.