A true story
I have a friend who has been studying to be a
missionary in Hungary and plans to serve in Ethiopia (Lord willing). While at
school in Hungary, she met a man from Ethiopia. As time progressed, they knew
they were called to marriage. However, her parents wouldn't agree to a marriage
without getting to meet the man God brought into her life. And she was asked to
consider "waiting" until she finished school. As you can imagine this was not
easy for her to hear. She shared with me through her e-mails how she felt the
right time to get married was now. She also told me that she knows God has given
her, her parents for a reason so she will carefully listen and think about their
advice.
Knowing her tough situation, I decided I would send
her a card to hopefully brighten her day. I work at a gift shop that has lots of
cards. So I had plenty to choose from. I devoted some time to finding a card for
my friend and spent a lot of time looking at a rack of Christian cards. I looked
and looked for just the "perfect" card. I knew I wanted something about
"waiting" in it. Unfortunately, I found nothing. I moved on to all the other
card racks that didn't have a spiritual emphasis. There were many wonderful
cards but they weren't what I was looking for.
Finally I said to myself, "For my friend's sake God
would want her to receive a "perfect" card. I'm going to pray about it." And so
I prayed that God would help me find the perfect card. I went back to the
Christian cards for one last glance and out of the corner of my eye I saw a card
that said: For Those Who Wait. My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe it! I had
looked that rack up and down many times! How could I have missed that card?? I
then opened the card to find words about waiting for God's perfect timing and
Romans 5:1-5 that talks about "hope does not disappoint" at the bottom of the
card. I thanked God for the "perfect" card and began filling it out. Before I
sealed it up I told her I hoped this card makes it over there before she
returned home for summer break which was only 3 weeks away.
I sealed up the letter and took it home. And being
typical me, I didn't get around to mailing the letter for at least a week. I'll
write people and then never get the letter in the mail. It's really annoying
that I do that. I finally remembered to mail the letter and I hoped it would get
there in time. Shortly after sending that card, I received an e-mail from my
friend. Below is a portion of the e-mail she sent me explaining how God brought
that card to her right on time.
"... The real reason for writing this e-mail is not to
reply to your humorous stories (I like to send her the HUMOR section from
"Christian Voices"), but it is for a much greater reason. I received something
in the mail yesterday that blew me out of the water. You have no idea what I was
going through at the time I got your card. It was funny because you actually
stated in the card that you hoped it got to me in time, but it didn't only get
to me in time, it came at a perfect time in my life here. It was simply
amazing..... I
had received a pretty discouraging phone call the night before from someone who told me that my fiance' probably wouldn't be getting a visa to the States. My parents don't agree to a marriage until they meet him. I was so discouraged. I had cried in my bed earlier that day before lunch. Then, I checked my mail box, not expecting to find anything in it. But, for the sake of checking it, I did. That's when I saw the most beautiful envelope in the world! And inside the envelope was the most beautiful card. And inside the card were the most beautiful words. It was so perfect for my situation.
God had just been speaking to
me about having peace and joy from Him and how I just needed to trust and wait
on Him. It couldn't have been a more perfect card. I don't think I could even
explain to you how much it affected me. Not only that, but earlier in the day,
while I was doing my devotions, I was reading Romans 5:5 and it is the verse
about hope not disappointing because the love of God has been poured out in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit which was given to us. At the bottom of the card, I
don't know if you remember, but it had that verse. God used that verse in my
devotions. It stuck out to me and God was just telling me to hope in Him. Then
the card just reminded me of it. It was so very awesome!!! .... I just thought
I'd tell you that God answered your prayer of picking out the perfect card for
me....."
I realize now that I didn't really send that card
after all. Seems to me that the Perfect God had cooked up the whole thing
Himself. I am just glad he let me participate because it brought such great
encouragement to me even though I was just trying to cheer my friend up.
Maria
mariatortilla2@juno.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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