Blessings In the Pool
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed (Proverbs 11:25, The Message).
Friend to Friend
It all started /with a swimsuit. I had to buy one. Dan and I were
joining our kids and grandkids /for a week of family
vacation in
Charleston, South Carolina. The beach, a swimming pool, and water parks
were on the agenda,
and I wanted to do them all!
Ladies, I know () you can understand my feelings of terror /at the
thought of having to find a swimsuit //that actually fits
and looks good
on me. I had two days /before we left, and both of those days were
crammed full – appointments, meetings,
and writing deadlines stared me /
in the face.
Idiom:
stare in the face1. To be plainly visible or obvious to (one); force itself on (one's) attention:
The money on the table was staring her in the face.
2. To be obvious to (one) though initially overlooked: The explanation had been staring him in the face all along.
3. To be imminent or unavoidable to (one): Bankruptcy now stares us in the face.
4. To be about to experience or undergo (something dire): We are staring bankruptcy in the face.
I prayed. Yes. I. Did. I asked God to help me find the right
swimsuit.
It had to be modest, it had to look good on me, and it had to
be cheap!
On my way home from a doctor’s appointment, I passed one of my
favorite stores. I only go /in this store
when they are having a huge
sale and when I have a coupon. I saw the bright red “Clearance” signs
in the store window
and knew () I had a great coupon in my purse. Yes!
I had exactly 25 minutes to get in the store … find a swimsuit … and get out /in order to make it to my next meeting on time.
When I walked in, I saw a very small rack of swimsuits in the back
corner of the store. I asked the sales lady if those were
the only
swimsuits () they had. “I’m afraid () it is,” she said. “Our big sale was
last week, but take a look.
You never know [what you might find].”
With the faith of a mustard seed, I headed for that rack. And then I
saw it - a gorgeous black swimsuit. It was modest, beautifully made,
and it was my size. I held my breath and looked at the price tag. Oh.
My. Word. It had been marked down 60%
and I had a coupon /for another
20% off. When I tried it on, I did a happy dance /in the dressing room,
thanking God /for leading me straight to that suit.
But that is not the whole story.
When we got to Charleston, the grandkids wanted to swim. I put on my
new suit and humbly accepted the compliments
of my husband, children,
and grandkids /as we headed to the pool.
Two older women were in the pool, lazily exercising and talking.
When they saw us, they smiled and waved.
Then one of the women said, “I
love your suit! You look so cute in it!” Made. My. Day.
Our grandkids demonstrated all of their aquatic accomplishments /as
Dan and I applauded and praised them.
One of the ladies said, “Your
grandchildren are beautiful! I know you must be so proud of them.” At
that moment,
[the invisible “Dump Here” sign //that seems to be on my
forehead] started flashing, and I sensed God’s hand at work.
My husband
and daughter did too /as they slowly moved the kids /to the opposite end
of the pool.
For an hour, Julia and Shirley shared their hearts and their lives
with me - the loss of a husband – the long-term affects
of a nearly
fatal car wreck – how they found God. I shared my journey as well. When
I told them I was going to be speaking /in Birch Run, Michigan, Julia
gasped. “I live close to Birch Run. I’m coming to that conference.
I’m
just here visiting Shirley.” When it was time for me to go, the three
of us joined hands in that pool and prayed for each other. Oh, how I
love the way God orders my steps.
When I walked in the door of the condo and shared [what had happened],
our daughter Danna said,
“And just think, Mom. What if you had not
bought that suit? You would have missed those two women.”
Yes. I would have missed the blessings in the pool.
Don’t underestimate God.
There is nothing ordinary about your day.
There are people () God places /in your path /for an eternal reason. [The
sales clerk //where you shop] needs to see God’s
love /in your smile. [The
unplanned stop where you run into a friend //who needs encouragement] is
really an opportunity /sent
by God. You get your mail and see your
neighbor /in her front yard. Does she need to know that you
care … so she
can know () God cares?
Wake each day with a “yes” in your heart. Then start looking.
Look for God /in your circumstances … in the people () you meet … in the
unwelcome intrusion of a neighbor
… in the infuriating behavior of a
co-worker or the exasperating antics of your teenager.
Look for [the
opportunity /to show them God], and don’t miss the blessings.
* infuriating; making one extremely angry and impatient; very annoying.
Let’s Pray
Father, I come to You today with a “yes” in my heart. Whatever You
want me to do, I will do. Whatever You want me to say,
I will say.
Wherever You want me to go, I will go. Thank You for Your love and for
the plan () You have for my life.
I surrender, Lord. I don’t want to miss
the chance /to bless others or Your blessings in my life.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.