Devotion 386 - someone

I carelessly threw some things in my bag.  We were headed home.

It had been a grand vacation.

I quickly wrote down the highlights.  The things we had seen;  the things we had shared.  The things I pray I will remember for a lifetime.  The expression on my baby daughter’s face as she pondered why it was we had gone on vacation and the gratitude that burst out of her so unexpectedly and so very genuine.

Unexpected.  I went over the word again and again.  The trip had been full of almost all things expected, hoped and prayed for.

I had prayed for health.  I had prayed for wonderful, sunny weather.  I had prayed we would be safe.  I had prayed we would see the sites and embrace each other, reconnecting as family after a busy school year and even busier schedule.

I mentally checked one after another praise off my list as if God had wrote it with me.  Then I grabbed a tiny souvenir, a little basket my oldest daughter and I had purchased.  

There was something about that morning we had spent together that I wanted to remember.  I held it and went over every detail until the reality hit that some of the best, most precious details I had not planned.

I have a terrible habit of inviting God into my plans instead of listening for His.  I look at detours and changes and the unexpected as Him not hearing or worse the devil interrupting.  I forget almost daily, that He is the teacher, I am the student. 

I thought of the two little children we had seen looking for their parents.  I watched how dozens and dozens of people passed by them.  I was one of them.

Then I looked at all four of my children and realized somewhere the mama of those children would want another mama to step in and I turned around.  I knew it meant probably missing our bus.  And I also knew I would not sleep seeing those little faces if I did not at least try and do something.  

I stopped and talked with them.  The little girl could not stop crying.  The older brother younger than my youngest son was so brave.  He “had it handled.”  But his sister’s face spoke volumes.  I left them assured help was indeed on the way and then mama after mama stepped up asking what was wrong and how could they help.

Funny how good pours out if you just take the cap off pride.

Then there were the gentlemen, security folks just talking as we went through their line.  They were about the business of business but I heard them talking about the Bible.  I had to stop.  Our family had a schedule.  We had reservations.  We were rushing a bit to get where we were going but for two precious minutes we shared about the Gospel.   

The Word that means the world to us.  It was a precious interruption.

There was also the gentleman driving my son and husband back to our hotel.  He needed someone. Sometimes dear one, we are the someone.

They didn’t want to sit in the cab; it was far from being on the schedule.  They were tired and hot;  it had been a long day, but that someone needed a someone.  They were the someones.  They got to pray and pride and priority washed away with tears.

Somewhere between appointments and to dos and plans God squeezes in,  and we realize what we are about is not the day-timer; it is about the day keeper.  It is divine.

Scripture is full of interruptions.  Did the woman at the well expect a visitor?  Did the guards at the prison expect a preacher?  Did the little town of Bethlehem expect a star?

He is all about pushing plans gently out of the way so we can gaze upon glory.

I need to see with bigger eyes.  I need to hold with more open hands and I need to listen for the ways He talks to my heart.  The God who wove the world waits to weave more of Him into us.

 Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.   Romans 12:2