In some ways, it's like we never left! Here we are, back at home, waiting for a cheque..... again! The expenses never stop, in fact they seem to increase, particularly with the CollegePlus costs.... Yikes, doing college at home is cheaper for sure, but each course she takes is not free. Our daughter finds herself contributing more financially to the costs than she expected as we just can't do it all on our own.
So we pray, as usual. We also reflect on the image of provision that God gave us while we were in North Carolina. It seemed everywhere we looked we saw wildlife. Not bears or sea lions or anything like that, but kind of obvious things, like birds or little crabs that you would see at the ocean. As you looked over the pier, you could occasionally be fortunate enough to see a sting ray and one time my kids actually saw a sea turtle! Then, as we swam in the ocean, entire schools of little fish would swim near us. We also saw many different types of birds like pelicans, sea gulls, sandpipers..... all very busy on the edge of the shore. They were digging in the sand constantly. It seemed like they were doing it all in vain, until we realized they were digging for those little sand crabs. The picture that came to my husband's mind was that of provision. Each animal, each bird, fish, crab, they were all provided for. None of them was suffering and yet they didn't have a "job" or a "house" per se. God took care of them. I think God gave him that picture as a way of encouraging him that God would care for us as well. He knows our college expenses, our farm issues that are always costing us, our growing family. Yesterday it was paying for our piano teacher - another major ouch. But the school of fish is fed, all the birds, even the sand crabs have enough to eat, so God will take care of us.
Meanwhile, we are also preparing ourselves now for the loss of dear friends as they are making a move, a huge move, across the country. We've known these friends since they were both single. They had just immigrated to Canada from South Africa when we met. In a few short weeks we became good enough friends to be invited to their wedding shortly after. From there they settled in a home and church near us where we tried to get together regularly. Children soon followed, but then more moves, across the country and across the world, but fortunately for us, we had the internet and maintained contact as they went through major life changes, major self-realizations, spiritual revelations, even more children! But then, providence had it that they would move near us again and settle in our church community. We even became involved in business together. It seemed this time they were going to stay, no more moves.... but God had other plans....
As they prayed and we prayed, a dream job became available out west. It is sometimes difficult to discern God's will in our lives, but it was pretty clear. Doors clearly opened and clearly closed. My favourite story is that someone actually walked up to them and told them out of the blue months ago that they wanted to buy their home. They had a great house, but quite a few things were left unfinished and they had no plans to get to them in the near future. It seemed too good to be true! But amazingly, it all came together as they just continued to surrender their lives to the Lord, always believing, if they trusted God with their lives, He would make it all work out and He did. The paperwork for the house was signed and they never even had to get a real estate agent involved. Incredible.
I love being so closely involved in their story as it is such an encouragement to me to continue trusting the Lord in my own personal life. God has given me countless books and authors to read as encouragement in my faith, but to know someone's story who is a close friend just seems to make it more real. I'll reflect on their many answers to prayer for a long time whenever I think my prayers are hitting a wall.
They leave this week, though, so there will be a huge loss in our life. But I praise God for the window of time that we were all living close by one another. Who knows how and when our paths will cross again. I think what I appreciate the most about our friendship was the deep bond we shared in Christ. We both went through changes in our lives as wives where we figured out what true submission looked like. Both of our husbands also had major self-realizations about being true spiritual leaders in our homes. We both figured out that children were a blessing, not a curse and now between the two families, we have 16 children! We share the same desire to seriously disciple our children and though we are far from perfect, we have enjoyed rich times of family worship in each other's homes, even last night as we prayed as families together for one of the last times. It is hard to find friends like that. We will miss them. Wherever they end up, I hope the community that receives them will understand the blessing that is coming.
So today, I need to remember the picture of provision God has given us and the picture of friendship. No need for fear, God has given reminders to me all around of how He takes care of us. I need to simply open my spiritual eyes.
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