Covered.

It was a long week of goodbyes. Long and emotional.  It just plain hurts to be separated from those who hold your heart.  There is no easy way around it.  I have shed more tears this week then I have in a long, long time--yet through it all the Lord has shown me again and again how He has us all covered under the safety of His wing.  He is very near to each of us as we work our way through these changes.

I am so thankful that during the craziness of our pack-out the Lord generously gave us time to spend with our family and friends.  Sweet times of just simply being together . . . laughing, talking, playing, crying, baby snuggling.  Time is a gift, and the older I get the less I take it for granted.

We said the last of our goodbyes this morning, and my heart ached.  It's one thing to watch your birds spread their wings and fly the nest--it's what we prepare them for.  It's another thing to hug the necks of those same birds and then be the one to "fly away".  It's backwards.  It's not the way it's written in my "how to be a good mama" book.

We were two hours down the road when Bry got a phone call from Taylor. "Side of the interstate. Shredded tire.  Driver's side."  Thankfully she wasn't alone.  Thankfully when the tire shredded, Frankie, who was driving, was able to get them safely to the side of the crazy, busy road.  Thankfully, the Lord would have Frankie's sister, Kathy, and her boyfriend, AJ, in the vicinity--even though neither of them live near to where this happened-- and AJ came and helped Frankie get the tire changed.  As the incident played out we texted, and we prayed, and we prayed some more . . . and as I struggled with the helpless feeling of being too far away to do anything, the Lord proved to me that He had them safely covered.

Later in the day, Taye would find herself trying to take care of a problem with her credit union, in San Antonio.  A problem that wasn't really her fault, but one that could stand to cost them a decent chunk of money if not resolved.  Brady happens to be happily employed by this credit union and works for their call center, in Austin.  Little brother counseled big sis (by text) as to how she should go about fixing the issue, and then told her to go ahead and call the call center in Austin (they handle the calls for all of the branches).  There were seven people manning the phones at the call center.  Guess who got the call put in by his big sister?  Yes.  Little brother.  The same little brother who is doing an amazing job at his place of employment was able to resolve his sister's issue.  And again, the Lord showed me that He is the Master when it comes to the details that concern us.  He had this covered.

As we pulled of the road for dinner tonight in small town Texas, we decided on Whataburg*r (Well . . . I decided, because I was the hungriest).  We walked into a strangely calm atmosphere, in fact we were the only ones in the restaurant--unheard of in the busy San Antonio establishments we are used to.  The only sound that met my ears as we stepped inside was a familiar Christian music tune.  Really Lord?  I've never been in one of these restaurants that played Christian music--or in one that was quiet enough to even hear the music-- but this one certainly was, and it was just for us. He was again sweetly reminding us that we were covered. As the kids finished dinner Bryan made our hotel reservation for the night.  We would drive a couple of more hours, make it across the Texas border, and sleep in Hope, Arkansas.

Fast forward. We exit for our night's lodging.  The sign that greets us: Best West*ern, Hope--and below that, "Pray for our nation."  I like it.  I also like the oversized pair of floral wreathes decorating the hotel entrance--grapevine underneath, draped to overflowing with dainty and delicate wildflowers, in all of my favorite colors.  They sing spring. It's like they were hung just for me to enjoy--and so I do. As Bry goes in to register at the front desk, I sit and stare from my van seat . . . and for a moment, the heaviness of the day fades away into the eye catching delight upon doors.

We enter our hotel room and  my attention is immediately drawn to an open Bible placed on the desk top--not in the drawer, not closed on the bedside table, but open.  Open, and placed so that as I turn the desk lamp on, it illuminates His word!  And my Heavenly Father's final touch of the day?  A half sheet of paper, carefully placed atop the comforter on the first bed inside the door, that reads:

To Our Guests

In ancient times there was a prayer for

"The Stranger Within Our Gates"

Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people and

not solely a money making organization, we hope that God will 

grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.  May this 

hotel be your "second home".  May those you love be near you in 

thoughts and dreams.  Even though we may not get to know you 

personally, we hope that you will be comfortable and happy

as if you were in your own house.

May the business that brought you our way prosper.  May

every call you make and every message you receive add to your joy.

When you leave may your journey be safe.

We are all travelers.  From "birth 'til death" we travel

between the eternities.  May those days be pleasant for you,

profitable for society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those

who know and love you best.

Sincerely,

Management and staff

Best Western Inn of Hope

Wow.  

Just wow.  

They truly are an "inn of hope".  

On a weary day, to this weary traveler who feels as though she is missing pieces of her heart-- A prayer . . . "we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof . . . May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. . . May every call you make and every message you receive add to your joy . . . "

Friends,  don't ever doubt that God isn't concerned with the details of your life.  Be still and listen.  Be still and look around you.  If you have trouble doing those two things, perhaps put yourself on a nine hour road trip through Texas . . . or through anywhere.  Okay, I know that isn't realistic, but my point is take the time.  Make the time to look up.  Make the time to find the silver lining of your hurt, or your chaos, or your loneliness. And, as my very-wise-at-all-of-twenty-two-years-of-age daughter-in-love reminded me in a text today, "Remember to enjoy the journey."

Oh Lord, let me not get so caught up in the "getting there" that I forget to enjoy the "right here".  Thank you that when the cloud of "change" shades my view, You bring the silver lining of comfort--reminding me that you know, and you care.  Thank you for creatively using people and places, and even wreaths on doors to minister to my soul.  Thank you for reminding me today that "Change always comes bearing gifts." You are faithful.

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina