Unexpected Blessings

Since July 14th, we have been moved out of our home and out on the open road traveling to see family and friends before we leave for Africa in September.  Honestly, I don't think we've had a chance to truly process it all - making that transition from Tyson's job, our home, and our community of friends.  It's like we were standing at the edge for so long, and now we've finally taken the big leap!  At times it feels surreal, a little anxiety producing, and exhausting.  However, what we've experienced the most since stepping out into the unknown and putting all of our eggs in God's basket so to speak is an undeniable sense of His presence, mercy, peace, and provision.   Picture that Dad running behind his little child who is learning to ride a bike without training wheels for the first time.  He's holding on to the back of their seat not about to let go.  They can peddle with confidence because they know Daddy's got them.

I have to share this one story with you that has happened to us recently because it captures what I'm talking about.  Last week we set off from Tyson's family's home in North Carolina to see my family in Louisiana and Texas.  We had driven about nine hours (with small children!) before stopping in Alabama the first night.  You don't have to use your imagination much to picture how "done" we were at that point.  However, we weren't too tired to realize we wanted Mexican food for dinner. Practical I know!  By the time we left our hotel room, we'd already done the obligatory swimming in the hotel pool for Samuel, thrown our dry clothes back on, and were racing to beat the pre-dinner meltdown from Luke.  We arrived at the Mexican restaurant we had "googled" that was supposed to be great, unload, walk in to realize it was way too posh and not kid friendly by the fact they didn't have high chairs and the looks that were hitting us.  "Sorry kids, we know you've been in the car forever today, you're starving, and your coping skills are waning.  "Mom and Dad are determined to eat Mexican tonight so we're cramming you back in your car seats while we find something more suitable."  Insert some tension between Tyson and I, and you get the picture.  Thanks to modern technology we found something we thought looked  more suitable and were on our way while I casually mentioned that this was preparing us for the inconveniences of living in a third world country.  Minutes later we're in the parking lot of another MR(Mexican restaurant) that's obviously more suitable and munching on chips and salsa in no time.  Seated next to us was a woman who was eating alone.  She looked to be in her sixties and you could tell she was a local by the familiar conversation she was having with her waiter calling him by his first name and chatting casually.
Later, during the meal we see our little extrovert waving his heart out at the lady, but she didn't see him.  Looking flustered he said, "She's not saying hi to me."  I said, "She doesn't see that you're waving to her.  Wait until she sees you, and then you can say hello to her."  Samuel never took his eyes off of her.  She wasn't getting away easily!  Finally, as she was standing up to leave, she glanced his direction and he was waving at her like he was a hitch hiker trying to flag someone down.  She didn't have a choice but to speak to him.  We could tell she was a friendly person right away or we would not have let our kid keep on if we thought he was annoying her.  The conversation went something like this. "Hi, what's your name?  My name is Shirley, what's yours?  My name is Samuel. I'm a rescuer.  Oh, you are? Yes." (deep breath in) and here it went... "This is my mom and dad.  We're on a long trip.  We're staying at a hotel because we're going to Africa....."  Shirley's trying to digest more than her Mexican food at this point, and we're looking on trying to decide when to interject something.  "Wow, Samuel.  You're going to Africa?"  We then began to chat with Shirley and clarify what we were doing.  One thing led to another as she wanted to hear more of our story and we wanted to hear hers.  This turned into an hour long conversation that eventually moved to the parking lot.  Before we knew it, Shirley had grabbed our meal check and insisted on picking up the tab.  Tyson did most of the talking and listening as I kept Luke from eating things off the floor and Samuel from going home with any other customers he befriended.  Shirley was on her own faith journey as well.  She lost her husband four years ago and has been through some very difficult times.  She's recently retired after a successful business career and is writing a couple of books about her journey.  In just one hour's time we had made a heart connection with this woman, she had paid for our meal, we exchanged contact information, and teared up saying good bye as I believe we were all touched by God's unmatchable and unexpected kindness.  When we got in the car to leave we were a little speechless trying to take in the whole experience which had never before happened to us.  As I've thought about it, our crash landing at that particular restaurant seated next to Shirley and connecting with her while having our meal paid for had absolutely nothing to do with our merit.  The whole thing was quite chaotic and messy.  Our attitudes stunk on the way, our motives were selfish (MR), and our kids were dirty and fussy.  Like we really had any business traipsing all over town looking for the "right" place.  Just grab a Happy Meal and get to bed!  I can tell you we never prayed something like "Lord, just lead us to the right place as we moan and groan looking for what we want."  I don't know what Shirley's day was like leading up to that point, but I wonder if she was expecting a sweet brown eyed little boy to notice her, want to be her friend, and pursue her like she was the Dutchess of Cambridge?  I wonder.  Does anybody see what this is pointing to?  or should I say who?  He's a loving Father.  Faith pleases Him - not behavior or appearance, or effort.
As we've pulled away from the shore (as we see it) and found ourselves out in the deep end without bringing our life raft with us, we are experiencing that God loves this!  He is over and over again saying, "I am with you." "You can trust me." "I will not let you down."  I know that there will be days and there have been when I'm in that place of having to choose faith when I don't see  Him so clearly, so I pray that this will be one of those remembrance stones to look back on and know that He is who He says He is.