Dandelions, Thistles, and How Do You Grow Faith?
May 27, 2012
I bike to my new yard, a yellow child trailer bouncing along
behind me. This is it! The new home.
behind me. This is it! The new home.
Earlier, a friend, in black “blinged” flip flops, and I, in
brown bejeweled sandals, walk in measured paces across the knee-high grass. Counting feet and meandering mildly-haphazardly
through the dandelions, we guess at the dimensions for a privacy fence. I dream gardens and landscaping, and skip
excitedly.
brown bejeweled sandals, walk in measured paces across the knee-high grass. Counting feet and meandering mildly-haphazardly
through the dandelions, we guess at the dimensions for a privacy fence. I dream gardens and landscaping, and skip
excitedly.
“I could put the garden there, and plant ferns here.” We
sidestep thistles, and scratch itchy ankles.
sidestep thistles, and scratch itchy ankles.
“Mom, I think I’ll wait in the van,” my friend’s daughter
finally surmises, as my friend graciously walks and plans with me. We plan
summer outings and moving days, and then she drives away, sharing my joy and
excitement.
finally surmises, as my friend graciously walks and plans with me. We plan
summer outings and moving days, and then she drives away, sharing my joy and
excitement.
At the local hardware super store, I amble the aisles and
ponder two by fours.
ponder two by fours.
I keep being drawn now to the yellow and green trim house, eager
to move in, and ecstatic with our Abba for blessing us with this lovely home. My
daughter and I peer over internet real estate photos of our new home, wondering
about furniture placement and divvying up bedrooms.
to move in, and ecstatic with our Abba for blessing us with this lovely home. My
daughter and I peer over internet real estate photos of our new home, wondering
about furniture placement and divvying up bedrooms.
Boxes accumulate in our current home, moving plans are made,
and the closing dates loom three weeks away. Ensconced in our boxes and
memories, we say farewell to our neighbors of fourteen years, finish up school,
and marvel at our God who provided this new home for us.
and the closing dates loom three weeks away. Ensconced in our boxes and
memories, we say farewell to our neighbors of fourteen years, finish up school,
and marvel at our God who provided this new home for us.
Thank you, friends, for praying for our current home to sell
and for a new home for us. It’s been a ten month journey, and a great time to
practice waiting and trusting.
and for a new home for us. It’s been a ten month journey, and a great time to
practice waiting and trusting.
Thank you, Abba, for extravagant answers to prayer. I stand
awed, humbled, and convicted that I had doubted.
awed, humbled, and convicted that I had doubted.
In tiny pencil on narrow margins, I had etched my worries
last week. In lead script beside ancient
Old Testament type, I had joined the prophet Daniel’s prayers with my own
words. Beside his lofty prayers for wisdom in discerning an impulsive king’s dreams, I scratched in my own request. Daniel urged his friends to “plead for
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery” and I scrawled out, “A house,
Lord? 5/18/12.”
last week. In lead script beside ancient
Old Testament type, I had joined the prophet Daniel’s prayers with my own
words. Beside his lofty prayers for wisdom in discerning an impulsive king’s dreams, I scratched in my own request. Daniel urged his friends to “plead for
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery” and I scrawled out, “A house,
Lord? 5/18/12.”
On the next page, when the young biblical prophet Daniel is
given the dream’s meaning and bursts out into jubilant praise to the God who “reveals
deep and hidden things” and who had “made known what was asked of him,” my
pencil scratched again. “A house, Lord? 5/18/12.”
given the dream’s meaning and bursts out into jubilant praise to the God who “reveals
deep and hidden things” and who had “made known what was asked of him,” my
pencil scratched again. “A house, Lord? 5/18/12.”
Days later, our realtor called. Amid dancing and squeals,
and hurried phone calls to family members, I opened my Bible again, and added a
new date to those etched pencil-marked margins.
and hurried phone calls to family members, I opened my Bible again, and added a
new date to those etched pencil-marked margins.
“Yes! 5/22/12.” Thankful praise penciled into two pages, and
across two spots in my heart, reminding me that yes, his heart is for us, and
yes, he hears and answers prayers – over and abundantly.
across two spots in my heart, reminding me that yes, his heart is for us, and
yes, he hears and answers prayers – over and abundantly.
Oh me of little faith. I’m taught again, and so I return, by
foot, by bike or by car to the jumbled grassy lawn. Walking through the tangled
dandelions and thistles, I grin, amazed at my Abba, and humbly thankful.
foot, by bike or by car to the jumbled grassy lawn. Walking through the tangled
dandelions and thistles, I grin, amazed at my Abba, and humbly thankful.
Congratulations, Jennifer!
Congratulations, Jennifer!
Great news! Joy in your new home!
Oh, Jen.
I am rejoicing with you. God has given you the answer to your request for a new house that will of your dreams…. a garden and all.
I can't wait to see some photos once you have the plans done.
God bless you and yours!
Tandeming troll,
Thank you! I have been biking a lot more this spring too. Has your family been as well? I know you love it.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
Pam,
Thank you! Yes, we are so thrilled.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
Lolita,
Thank you for rejoicing with us! Yes, we are so thankful and humbled and thrilled.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com