OLD PHOTOGRAPHS, STORIES AND LIFE

Between “tear breaks” I looked through old pictures; pictures of an 18-year old couple beginning a life together, full of hopes and dreams, yet to be realized.  There were snapshots of 2 kids holding a newborn baby and then 17 months later another baby appears in the scene.  Among the old photos are those of loved ones that we miss so much and long to hold once more.  Jump to 2013 and there is that newborn baby, all grown up, standing proudly with his wife and 3 beautiful children and the other baby with his wife and 4 beautiful children.  When did life happen and where did time go?  I had aspirations and dreams and plans and goals; I want a do over!!!

There is an old country song with the lyrics, “I’d like to be 16 again and know what I know now!”  Have you ever felt that way?  I certainly have!  If I could only go back to 18 years old and Steve and I could start our life all over.  Oh the things I would do differently.  We would certainly be rich because I would have sunk our entire fortune into Microsoft and Wal-Mart, and then sold it all at just the right time.  There are places we would not have moved to and houses we would not have moved from.  I would have saved more, bought less and cut up the credit cards.  More time would have been spent just talking and laughing with those who have reached the finish line first.  I would have sat on the floor and played more, not caring about all the tasks I thought were priorities.  I would have worried less and trusted more because now I know of God’s faithfulness.  I WANT A DO OVER!

As I continue to reminiscence, God takes me on a journey down memory lane.  That life that seems to have just slipped past was really busy and full and He was using every moment to make me into the person He had planned.  That first little house, with the toilet falling through the floor was teaching me to be thankful for every blessing so I would appreciate the brand new house 35 years later.  Balancing the checkbook until payday and returning pop cans for lunch money taught me thrift, the value of coupons, cooking meals instead of fast food, using cloth diapers when everyone else had disposable, helped me learn to be content for future times when the checkbook would balance itself.  I learned that God is truly our provider and will use any means to bless us, even if it means blowing something off of a roof and denting a car, giving us an insurance check to pay a bill.  God was there gently instructing me as I sat in the dark night praying and holding a little boy who’s nose wouldn’t stop bleeding; He is our healer.  Through every storm, I learned that He is the “Master of the Wind,” and only God can speak peace to my situation.

Back to my box of photographs; each one telling another piece of my life’s story.  How many of the precious memories would simply disappear if I was granted a do over?  What if I had always done the “sensible” thing for the moment?  I might have had a great career with loads of money, a grand home and luxury car in the garage but I would have missed those chubby little arms tight around my neck.  We may not have moved to Michigan, Minnesota and Tennessee and I would have avoided the struggles, the loneliness and the heartache and the people we ministered to, the friendships and the adventures.  We could have traveled the world but missed out on Saturday trips to the beach, making a snowman in the front yard and playing Yahtzee at the dining room table.

Suddenly the “Do over” isn’t quite so inviting and this story of my life with all its many pieces is really quite wonderful.  You don’t need a “Do over.”  Allow God to take the scattered pieces, even the ones you don’t think can possibly fit and put the puzzle of your life together.  That event you would change creates a splash of color in the completed picture.  The edge pieces are seemingly unimportant to the overall theme but without them the puzzle remains unfinished.   Your personal puzzle is not quite finished but if you take a moment and look through God’s eyes you will see that life really is quite a wonderful journey.

THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

The Niswonger Grandkid’s Camp – 2013 was exciting and full of activities.  One of the most highly anticipated activities was painting the fort that Grandpa and the Grandkids were building.  Holding 4-year old Anabel’s hand as we walked toward the garage, I listened to her chatter excitedly about painting her panels.  I told her I had bought pink paint especially for her and I also had green, blue, white, yellow and orange.  Suddenly, Anabel looked up at me with her sparkling blue eyes and said, “I love pink, it is my favorite but if I had orange that would be a great opportunity.”

Most of the time we are so focused on what we don’t have, what is missing, or what is happening that we ignore the “great opportunities” around us each day.    God provides us with the pink paint and when he includes the orange, just because He’s God, we throw up our hands in frustration and ask, “What am I supposed to do with this?”  Or maybe it just isn't the combination you wanted.  I am sure Joseph was all excited about his future when God gave him dreams but the excitement waned when he realized God had thrown a little “orange” in the mix.  A foreign land, slavery and prison were not a combination he wanted in his dream.  Joseph would have spent the rest of his years rotting in prison; full of self-pity if he had not recognized the “great opportunity” God was sending his way.  The “pink” and “orange” were a God-given ticket to the palace.

As you reflect on your dreams and goals, perhaps all of the “orange” is overpowering the small smear of “pink” on your masterpiece.  It wasn’t the combination you had envisioned and it seems you will never accomplish anything with the colors you’ve been given.  Remember, God has always had a plan for your life and He will never give you a color that He can’t work with.  He wants to show you the “great opportunity” that He is providing.  Dip your brush in the paint and allow God to guide you into your future.