God's Hand in Hindsight

A Realization

 

During a normal family devotional time we were discussing contentment and discontentment. As I listened to the discussion I realized our discontentment was against God. No matter the situation, husband, children, family, job or where you live, the truth of discontentment is questioning a sovereign God. "Why, What, When..."

As I sat forgiving my family and as they forgave me for the discontentment toward one another, I realized God's hand in my life once again.

 

A Story

Earlier on this day my father had visited us. After he was there for a while he began to share with my older son about his life and choices that brought severe consequences. You see my father grew up in Hawaii, and the year he graduated high school his parents and siblings headed to the mainland. To be exact they moved to a small town in Washington (where I would be born and raise my children), but my father stayed behind with no intention of moving with his family.

He stated to my son that he was a delinquent as a teen who didn't listen to his parents. Long story short, as an adult he landed himself in jail with only one way to get out: a police escort to the airport to board a plane heading to the mainland to his parents in Washington. As I listened to my father's story, all the facts didn't matter. What I heard was "do you see My hand? I am your God: a sovereign God." You see, God brought my father to Washington...and I am here and my children are here because of that: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb (Psa 139:13)."

 

Horrible Circumstances? Great God!

 

He, my Heavenly Father, has a plan for you and me that spans the generations. I will trust that He is sovereign and will work out that plan--even through troubling circumstances. Forcing this severe consequence upon my father's life of leaving Hawaii is where God's will in my life began.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Rom 8:28-30)."

God's supreme, preeminent and undisputable authority is seen all around us. Take the time to see His sovereignty in your own life.  "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I [am] the LORD, who makes all [things], Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself (Isa 44:24)."

By Patty W.

Mrs. W. is the able helpmeet to her husband, Brad, and the joyful mother of four wonderful children: Uriah, Aidan, Iliana, and Olin. When she's not homeschooling or organizing (you should see her closets!) or encouraging the women around her or cooking (you're missing out!) or opening her house up for hospitality or nursing baby Olin, she's probably finding deals on Craigslist and at garage sales or coaching volleyball. The rest of us can only wonder when she sleeps...

 

Photo Credit: Jack Fussel

New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 

Susanna is 12!

Whether you call her Susanna, Anna Banana (a good one if you want to rile her up!), Anna Belle, or the ever popular Anna, she is a blessing to our family! She also has the honor of having the first birthday of the year (April 30th) which means that birthday season has officially begun for our family. Who cares about hunting season--it's all cake (or most likely pie), ice cream, and presents until August for us! Here are some pictures from yesterday's celebration.

Jonah worked hard on his sign for his big sis. It fell down a couple of times,

but he never gave up!

Susanna and our dear friend Sandi King.

We stayed at the King's house when Susanna was born.

Sandi's husband, Ron. They were Anna's special guests!

I quote Ron: "He's gonna be your actor!" Sigh. (-;

Susanna requested that everyone come in costume, although some of

the adults came dressed up as moms, dads, and grandmas. (-; Some of our costumes are subtle, so I'll help you out: Mikaela's a 50s girl and Susanna and I dressed up as Hawaiian girls.

Melanie was--what else--a pig. Oink! Sadly, she was ostracized by a

family in terror of contracting Swine Flu. However, we are happy to report that none of her 200+ pigs have come down with it yet. We still don't go near them though.

Mom told Anna to plant a wet one on Micah after his sweet gift

(which involved a treasure hunt for Susanna).

She got all twelve candles!

This was the year for treasure hunts, because Mama

made one for Susanna for her big gift.

Where's the next clue!

Suprise! Now Susanna doesn't have to use the bike that

Mikaela, I, and Melanie have all used!

Happy Birthday, Susanna! We love you so much! You complete our girl's quartet, add a spark of joy to our family, and enjoy being our girly-girl. We thank God for you!

Happy 25th Anniversary!

On Wednesday—wait, I need to go back! OK, on Tuesday the fourth of February, Mama and Papa left for two weeks in Hawaii to celebrate—oh no, I really must go back further….On February 25, 1984, two young people united their hearts together and became mister and missus. Yes, my parents! How amazing it is to me to think of God bringing them together at a young age, and then gradually and patiently growing them through the years. They were Christians when they were married, but they had no inkling of the path that God would take them on: moving them hundreds of miles away from their family in Spokane, WA; allowing Mom to become a stay-at-home wife and mother; leading them to home school their children; then leading them to give their family size to him and having six (gasp!) children; and, the newest adventure, starting their own church with a few other families which necessarily requires Papa to preach and become an elder. My Mom often says that if God had shown her this path that she is on at the beginning of her marriage, she would have turned around and run the other direction! This is not because she does not love her life right now, but rather because she recognizes how far God has led her in twenty-five years and praises Him for His mercy, patience, and promise that He will never require more of us than we are able to do at the moment.
All of this brings me to Tuesday the fourth, when my parents left for a beautiful two-week vacation in Hawaii. This year is my grandparent’s fiftieth anniversary, so they graciously gifted Mama and Papa with airfare, car rental, and lodging so that all four of them could celebrate together in Hawaii. Lauren and I held down the fort for two weeks and had a blast, although sleep was always a little scarce between homeschooling our siblings, making meals, keeping the house clean, doing college classes, practicing violin and piano, teaching violin and piano, and getting ready for a symphony concert. It was awesome to be reunited with our parents after two weeks and then, this past Wednesday, to celebrate their “real” 25th wedding anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, Mama and Papa! You both are the inspiration for us for when we get married. You have shown us that marriage does include a whole lot of love, kisses, looks, massages, and hand-holding. But you’ve also been transparent and shown us that marriage has to include tears, vomiting children, disagreements, service, and sacrifice. If our marriages are anything like yours, we will consider ourselves blessed. So, again, Happy Anniversary—and may the next twenty-five years be even better than the first.

Note: All the scenery pictures are from Hawaii, courtesy of Mama! The night picture is lava flowing from the mountain, hitting the ocean, and splashing everywhere.