May 24, 2024
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Susan and I were driving through the Colorado mountains, our hearts heavy with the memory of Clay’s wish for his final resting place. Before he deployed to Iraq, Clay told Susan where he wanted his ashes to be spread should he not come back. We were on our way to the place he loved.
We were about to arrive at our destination when we realized that we had forgotten to bring flowers! How could we overlook such an important detail? We were in the middle of nowhere and there was no place to buy flowers.
We pulled into the parking area and hiked until we found the perfect place. Under a beautiful clear blue sky, with chipmunks frolicking all around, we looked out at a high mountain meadow full of the most beautiful wildflowers I have ever seen.
And we thought about how limited our thinking had been and how any purchase from a flower shop could not possibly come close to the extravagant beauty displayed before us!
Over the years I have told that story countless times as a witness to God’s abundant provision. I consider that time to be one of the most profound God-moments in my life. It was a time we saw God in our circumstances and were thankful that what He provided far exceeded our limited imaginations and expectations. Instead of a vase of store-bought flowers, we beheld a magnificent mountain meadow filled with wildflowers. I remembered that moment and that lesson learned with awe and reverence – until I forgot!
Years later Susan and I spent the week before Mother’s Day with our three granddaughters – Lyla, Savanna and Sela.
One morning Lyla awoke frantic because she and her sisters, along with every kid in school, were supposed to take flowers for the chapel May cross. There wasn’t time to go to H-E-B so the girls went to school empty-handed. My immediate thought was that this might be an opportunity for me to teach the girls a lesson about responsibility.
After I dropped the girls off at school, I went on a walk. I noticed wildflowers growing in vacant lots and fields along the rural highway – and I remembered the mountain meadow. I was ashamed of myself for forgetting that God-moment. I realized that this was not a lesson about responsibility for me to teach the girls, but a lesson about remembering His abundance for the Lord to teach me!
I asked the Lord to forgive me for forgetting and to show me how I could use my remembrance of the Colorado meadow and the wildflowers along a Texas highway to witness to my granddaughters about God and His glory.
And the Lord responded. In my thoughts I heard Him say, “Tell them about Clay (a simple brief version that their young minds could hopefully understand) and about the Colorado wildflowers. Take the girls and find a field of wildflowers close by, pick some, and have them make flower arrangements for their Mom for Mother’s Day.”
And the day before Mother’s Day, that’s exactly what we did. I told them about their Uncle Clay, his life and his sacrifice. I told them about the mountain meadow in Colorado, about how I had forgotten and how I remembered when I saw the wildflowers on my walk. I suggested that we should find some wildflowers and pick them to make special bouquets for their Mom for Mother’s Day.
The arrangements they made were absolutely gorgeous!
And I learned a lesson. When God shows up, remember and tell the story as a witness to others about Him!
The Bible says, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9, NIV
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, the Lord provides abundantly. Be thankful!
QUESTIONS
Do you remember a time in your life when the Lord surprised you in ways that far exceeded your expectations? Are you thankful? Have you shared that experience with others?
PRAYER
Lord, we are thankful that You are a God of abundance and that Your extravagant generosity far exceeds our expectations.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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