I treasured the floral card holder that I kept on my kitchen windowsill, and often read the cards filled with God's word for comfort and direction.
But as I loaded my cup in the dishwasher, the cards in the holder were the farthest thing from my mind. I was an elementary school teacher and it was my first day back after summer vacation. I couldn't wait to decorate my classroom and meet my new students.
I was nesting my cereal bowl in the dishwasher ready to bolt out the door for school, when a card flew from the holder and landed on the counter. Surprised, I read it where it lay:
The well worn, beloved card that blew out of the holder.
I looked outside in surprise. The window was open, and a few gusts of wind eddied around the back yard, but nothing that seemed strong enough to blow a card out of the box.
I decided it must have been just a fluke of nature and jumped in my car for work. But as I drove, I reflected on Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
It was easy for me to trust God. I still remembered the day in my twenties when I’d given my life to him. The waves of joy and peace I’d felt that day were undeniably real. And over the years, he’d blessed me with a kind, successful husband, two beloved sons, and a satisfying job.
As I threw myself into my work with the children, I forgot all about Proverbs 3:5 and the mysterious flying card.
But just a few weeks into the busy school year, my sister, Chris, called to tell me she’d been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
That was just the beginning of a string of difficult and devastating events.
During the next three years, Chris and my mother both died. A beloved family member suffered through an unexpected and painful divorce. My youngest son was diagnosed with a devastating, incurable illness.
There were days when the whole world seemed dark and void of God's care. Especially when I prayed, and he didn’t answer in the way I wanted him to.
But then I would remember the day the card about trust flew out of the holder and landed on the counter. I didn’t know if it was just a fluke of nature, or if God had sent the card flying to prepare me for the tough season ahead.
It didn’t matter. It was the words on the card that were important. God wanted me to trust that he was with me and that he loved me no matter what my circumstances suggested.
He wants you to trust that he loves and cares for you too.
From God.
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