Because of Christ

I had the weekend of March 14-16 planned for months.  My family was going to leave Thursday night and drive over to Illinois to visit the Robbins family, as we try to do at least once a year.  We would relax and visit, and attend their church's missions conference each evening. Everything was going to be perfect.

But then, plans changed, and the trip was going to be cut a day short.  Then plans changed again ... and again, and again.  What was going to be my idea of a perfect weekend just kept falling through.  I was hoping that by now I would understand that God's plans are better than mine, but I have to admit, I was sulking by the time Thursday rolled around.  My family was going to stay home, and I was to drive to Illinois by myself.  I was more than a little nervous.

The weekend was crazy-busy, a total whirlwind, and yet, one of the best few days I have had in my life.  God used so many people and circumstances to show me His power, I am just awed.  I don't think that I can accurately describe in a blog post what I experienced, but I just wanted to try and share briefly what God has done in my heart. I believe He revealed a small taste of what heaven will be like, and I am certainly ready for Him to come back for us anytime!

The weekend was filled with friends - no, family. And it didn't matter how long I knew them, or if I knew them at all.  They are family because of Christ. 

There was Jay and Hannah, whom I had never met before, but who left as my friends.  There was Heidi, my close friend and former roommate, a confidante and a support who I've known for years.  Her parents, who think of and treat me as their own.  Willi and Heidi, who were friends of mine in college, but have moved to Germany and I've not seen for five years. Kelly, who I've known a long time and who ended up marrying a childhood friend of mine. There was Terry, a distant relative with whom I've recently reconnected, and her family.  I even went to her father-in-law's funeral - a man that I did not know - and I left thinking, "I can't wait to meet him in heaven!" And there was the church congregation, who has made it their goal to get to know me and my family, and to pray for us and to welcome us with open arms every time we visit.

There were two very distinct moments this weekend that moved me to tears, and I can't get them out of my mind.  The first was when I was sitting at the funeral of Norm, a man that I did not know but who was dear to my friend. For that reason, he was dear to me, in a way. While waiting for the service to begin, I had a brief thought of, "Why am I here?" But then, God answered.  The piano began to play, and I knew.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks eternal, bright and fair
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there!

It doesn't matter that I never personally knew Norm.  He's a child of God, and he is in heaven right now, looking into Jesus' face. And because of Christ, I will be there too. And I'm sure we'll be friends then. 

The second came in the morning service yesterday, during another song.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

It was a special music, and I saw my college friends Willi and Heidi, with their three-year-old daughter Sophia, singing with pure hearts to their Savior.  Sophia knew every single word, because her parents have taught her the mercies of God.  I reflected on my life - the formative years and those I remember much better, the years from college on. I thought about when I first met Heidi S. ten years ago, when I was in college and she was in high school.  Willi, I met in Germany the summer after, and Heidi and I met that fall.

What fun we all had in college, and yet, how different we all are now. Through it all - good, bad, easy, hard - God has been faithful.  He has been our Father.  He has provided all that we've needed, every day. It's okay that we hadn't all been together in five years, because God has knitted our hearts in Him. Though time passes, we are still following Him, and that makes us family. It allows us to pick up where we left off, or to meet people we've never seen before, and to bond instantly.  

I am so thankful for each twist and turn of my life, and I'm thankful for the faithful friends who have been there all the way.  I am thankful that this weekend was not my plan, but was so much better because it was God's plan.  I pray that I am able to recall the lessons I have learned in the past few days and to love others more, knowing that everything that happens, every relationship that is made, is only because of Christ.