Flowers
and a Tote Bag
For the past three weeks I’ve had several situations
in my everyday life that I considered ordinary needs. However, what took place
were truly unexpected surprises from my Heavenly Father. Let me explain.
Ever since
I can remember, Memorial Day has always been a special holiday for my family. Many
family members on both my dad’s and mom’s sides are buried in the WaKeeney
cemetery. As a child, I can remember my mom and my Grandma Phares preparing
their glass jar peony bouquets to place on the gravesites on Memorial Day.
Then, our family would usually have a reunion of sorts, gather for a picnic or
go to Cedar Bluff Lake after the special ceremony at the cemetery. The day was such a fun, family gathering.
Now, since
that generation of my family is gone, I have taken it upon myself to place
flowers on my family’s gravesites because my mom was concerned that no one
would be around to put flowers on the graves. I told her as long as I was able,
I would become the flower lady. Of course, the number of deceased family
members has increased throughout the years which make “live” flowers almost
impossible to place on the sites, especially since I no longer live in
WaKeeney. Consequently, I have resorted
to artificial arrangements of some kind. Now this is where the surprise comes in. 😊
This year
due to many life obligations, I had delayed buying the flowers. Time was
running out for finding flowers, but I still wanted to look, at least for my
parents and grandparents. So about a week before Memorial Day, I checked at the
Dollar General store in a nearby town. As I walked into the store, I
immediately noticed a group of flowers in one of the aisles. My heart filled
with joy. I bought as many as I could afford at that time. When I checked out, I told the clerk how
happy I was that they had flowers. She said they had just received them and had
displayed them that morning. I had the pick of the lot. Awesome!!
However, sorting through those simple flowers a few days
before Memorial Day, I discovered I didn’t have enough for what I needed. So, I
made a flash dash to DG Saturday morning and lo and behold, they had just
restocked flowers the day before!! I was
able to purchase the remaining flowers I needed and even a few extra.
Second
surprise: It was time for our Granddaughter Katharine’s yearly dance recital,
and it’s become one of my traditions to give her a bag filled with candy treats
instead of a bouquet of flowers after her performance. However, this year her
birthday happened to fall a few days after the recital so I decided to give both
her birthday presents and her recital treat together. But then, I needed a tote
large enough for both gifts (more convenient for carrying). I checked the totes I had on hand, but none
were the right size so I had resolved to do without. However, when the mail
arrived the morning of the recital, I received a large envelope from one of the
mission groups I occasionally donate to. Inside were three, colorfully designed
totes. I couldn’t help but smile, especially when one was the perfect size for
Katharine’s gifts.
As I
reflect on those two, non-dramatic incidents, I don’t remember ever praying
specifically about them. But I was doing a lot of hopeful wishing. 😊
Nevertheless, I know in my heart, my mind, and my soul that those results were
not coincidences. God knew my desires even before I did, and He fulfilled my
unspoken requests. Why? Because He loves His children and delights in
surprising them.
“Delight yourself also in the LORD, and
He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4
“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will
save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you
with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
