March 20, 2012
March 19th, 2012March 20, 2012
BLESSED COINCIDENCES
I am sure, like me, you continually give God thanks for the blessings he has bestowed upon your life. In my daily prayers, I thank Him for my church, family, home, health, job, and the list goes on and on. But it’s also important to remember to give God the glory for those unexpected, out-of-the-blue, fall-in-your-lap type of blessings that non-believers would call “lucky coincidences.” But we as Christians know better, don’t we? We know it’s the hand of God at work in our lives. This is my story of one such blessing.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Recently my great-nephew, Clayton, played Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his high school’s rendition of Annie. A couple of months before the play, Clayton’s mother, my niece Melody, asked us to keep our eyes open for an antique wheelchair to be used in the play like the one FDR would have used in the early 1930’s. If that wasn’t enough, it had to be inexpensive or free. So we thought, “Yeah, right, what are the chances of that?” We filed this request in the recesses of our minds and moved on.
About that same time my husband, Bob, was looking for a second-hand snowplow for our Chevy Blazer. A friend told him about the Paper Shop, a local booklet of classified ads. Again, Bob made a mental note of this information for later use.
Fast-forward to a week before the play. Bob was in the check-out line of a local gas station. He noticed that the gentleman in front of him was buying a Paper Shop. Bob remembered what our friend had told him and thought about getting out of line to get one. However, he hesitated since the check-out line was long and there were quite a few people behind him. It would mean he would have to stand in a long line all over again. But “something” told him to get out of line to get it, so he did.
Later that evening we stopped for gas on the way home. While Bob was pumping it, I picked up the Paper Shop to leaf through to pass the time. The booklet literally fell open to the Antiques section and there in bold print was “Antique Roosevelt Wheelchair” very reasonably priced. I immediately called Melody (after thanking God, of course!) who in turn called the seller. It was still for sale, in good shape, was only about an hour away, and she reduced the price even lower when she found out it was for a school play! The wheelchair had belonged to her great-grandfather and she was cleaning out her home to get it ready to sell. Bob drove to Clarks Summit and picked it up the very next day!
On the night of the performance when “FDR” rolled out on to the stage in the wheelchair, I couldn’t help but think back over the series of seemingly small events over the past couple of months that linked together perfectly to bring us to this moment. I glanced over at my family members who spanned almost the entire row in the school’s auditorium, smiled, and, once again, gave God thanks for all he has blessed me with. Have you thanked God today?
Psalm 13.6 – I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Dear Lord, thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me. When trials and tribulations come, help me to focus on all that is good in my life and to remember to give you all praise and glory no matter what. Amen
Nancy Conklin