God’s perfect timing
When my first husband and I lived in Chicago, cel phones were still a thing of the future and email had barely been birthed. Regular cameras were still used, and film had to be developed before you could hold the image in your hand, and while everyone stayed connected via the (now all but non-existent) landline, I also liked to keep in touch with my friends and family in California through letters and cards with occasional pictures of life thrown in. In fact, I still have a photo album from that time that’s moved with me through three states and five cities…the lives and images of ourselves and others its own intertwined story spanning more than 30 years.
Fast forward to last January during which the fires in the Pacific Palisades decimated over 5,500 homes, one of which belonged to a very dear friend of mine, Anatora, and her family. While they all survived, they lost their entire home and everything within it except for a handful of items they were able to retrieve before they were evacuated to safety. Naturally, the loss was devastating and numbing, and they’re just now beginning to consider rebuilding. But a few months after it happened, I was going through some boxes in my garage and came across that old album which contained about a dozen pictures of my friend and two of her three children when they were babies, and the birth announcement for their son, and my friend in a bikini when she was pregnant with her first daughter, and the crib quilt I made for her, and this amazing dog they had named Streak. I hadn’t asked anything about what they’d lost in the fire as I imagined all the emotions around it were still very fresh and tender, but I took everything I had of them out of the album – memories, images, announcements - carefully wrapped them all together, and sent them to her, not knowing at the time what they did or didn’t have in the way of those kinds of tangible reminders.
Hold that thought.
A few weeks ago, I was visiting with my friend, Heather, proprietress of what happens to be, in my opinion, the best little boutique in Long Beach (Blue Windows, if you’re so inclined) and she gifted me with two mugs; one with the words of Numbers 6:24-26 which was the blessing that Michael would always say to our children before they went to bed or left us for their own homes. I also had it printed out beneath a picture of Michael on the program from his memorial service, and, of course, I immediately teared up when I saw it; I could 100% hear Michael’s voice as I read it.
The second mug she gifted me with was a copy of one she’d given me years ago that I absolutely loved and used every day and which, sadly, happened to break a few years in and I remember being so sad to no longer have it. To say that I was delighted to have another would be an understatement of great proportion. The crazy thing was that she had no recollection of purchasing two of that particular mug when she got them and, after giving me the first one, the second had remained wrapped up and carted around in a box through three moves until she’d found it again. Just for me.
Hold that thought.
Last October, I purchased airline tickets to fly out to North Carolina to visit two of my closest friends and, sadly, due to hurricane Helene, had to cancel said trip. I had a year to use the tickets and had every intention of making it out there this October but, in the way of busy schedules and hurried lives, the timing was off for us all. I was sharing this turn of events with my friend, Kris (her son and Jack have been friends since kindergarten), and bemoaning the possibility of not using the tickets at all and having to eat the cost. The next morning, she reached out with an invitation to join her and her husband for a few days at their family lake house in Washington. A quick call to the airline and a rearranging of destination and I was booked! I even had enough credit from my initial tickets to fly first class which I’ve never done before.
Let me just tell you that I had the most glorious and peaceful time. Nothing to do but watch the movement of the water and marvel at how the light changed from sunrise until sunset, breath in the fresh air from the massive evergreens which surrounded us on all sides, hear the honking of geese that flew mere inches above the water and be graced with the prayed for appearance of a bald eagle as it glided over the lawn in the early morning. I got halfway through the most wonderful book – Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi (thank you, Tina!) – I slept! Oh, God, how I needed that! We saw waterfalls, and went to the state fair, and to a little apple festival where we purchased coffee and apple cider doughnuts from a little truck called “Coffee & Carbs” (I mean….we absolutely couldn’t pass that up!). We broke bread together and prayed and talked about Jesus and marveled at His goodness. I felt so loved and cared for there; it being the second time that they’d given me refuge (perhaps more on that another time).
Can you see it yet?
Have you figured it out?
No? That’s okay. I’ll help you. Just six little words…
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
The presence of God was in each story I shared with you in that He knew exactly what was needed and when. He placed individuals in specific circumstances for His greater purpose. He enabled the gifts to be kept safe until they were meant to be given. Time was no issue – 30 years, 8 years, 11 months - but the timing was perfect. The Lord doesn’t just see the now…He sees the when, and the how, and the why. He says, “I see you and, through others, I’m working out all things because I love you.” It’s a tangible way of being wrapped in His arms and held close when we most need to feel His embrace.
