. . .an extension of the Orange Moon Cafe
I vividly remember taking this picture. We were traveling to a friend's house and the setting sun looked so stunning against the gray clouds and bare bine-stems of the trees. Since we were riding down the road, I didn't expect the picture to turn out, but it by far exceeded my expectations. I believe that is how the Lord is with us, if we trust Him, He will always exceed our expectations.
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In our post on Thursday, I wrote about our turtle, Percival, and how he had been missing for three weeks. You can read about that in this post.
On Thursday afternoon, I was working on our next children's book in the "Ellie & Percival Series" and drawing Percival. It made me so sad to be working on him, not knowing if we would ever see him again. I told Glen I thought this would be the last of the books with Percival. (Because without him, how would I have anything to write?) I tried to pray for whoever would encounter Percival that he would be a blessing to them as well.
This morning, Glen, Ellie, and I had stepped out for a walk, and Percival was in our driveway! Glen went into the house to get him some breakfast while Ellie and I stayed outside with him. As I spoke to him, he walked closer to us.
We stood there watching him eat chicken and cantaloupe for several minutes, and thanking the Lord for leading him back to us. Glen shared with me that he had prayed the previous day that the Lord would guide Percival back to us. I had prayed for Percival's provision and protection, but I hadn't prayed he would return, even though I wanted that very much. The Lord graciously answered both our prayers, even the one I didn't pray.
Then we headed off for a short walk. When we returned, we didn't see him, but Ellie's keen nose found him under our car. (This is such a frequent place for him that I kneel to look under the car before we leave to make sure he isn't there.)
We were leaving for our grandchildren's birthday party, so Glen brought Percival a special "dessert", fresh watermelon! He was also hoping it would occupy Percival while we were backing out of the driveway.
I can't express my relief at seeing him again (automobiles are the number one killer of box turtles), my gratitude that Glen prayed for his return, and my joy that the Lord had graciously answered Glen's prayers.
This whole experience with Percival reinforces in my heart and mind just how very much our Lord loves to answer our prayers. He loves to "give good things to them that ask Him."
So let us take every opportunity to take our request to our Heavenly Father, who delights in mercy and loves to shower His children with blessings "above all we can ask or think."
"Delight thyself also in the Lord;
and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Psalm 37:4
For at least twenty years, I have been wearing monovision contacts. (This means my left eye sees far away and my right eye sees up close.) Apparently I have the brain type that quickly adapts to that type of vision correction and I have been very happy with it.
In October, though, my eye doctor told me that we had reached the end of being able to refract my closeup eyesight with monovision contacts. This was news I knew was coming eventually, but did not want to hear it when it came. Even since that visit, I have noticed my close-up vision being less than it was. This gives me two options, one is glasses, the other possibly multifocal contacts.
I have never liked wearing glasses. I miss my peripheral vision and I don't like the feeling of something on my face. The other option could possibly be multifocal contacts. I have tried them twice and each time preferred monovision.
Pondering this situation, I began to think about vision. Not strictly regarding eyesight, but to our awareness around us.
When we are born, the "lens" of our awareness is very small. In fact, we are told that in the first few days a newborn doesn't even realize the mother is a separate entity.
As we grow and learn, the lens of our awareness begins to grow. As children we learn about our families, our homes, the area where we live. As we grow and have more experiences, we begin to learn about our town, perhaps our state. Even older and we begin to learn about our country and our world. Different places, people and things show up in the lens of our awareness. Then we become aware of things outside of our earthly existence. We learn of rockets into space, other galaxies and even other universes. These discoveries are often illuminating, exciting and lead to even more discoveries.
Then at some point in our lives, the lens of our awareness begins to diminish. Just as the lens of my eyes no longer can focus without visual aids, we begin to think less and less of the things beyond our world. The more we age, the smaller our lens of awareness becomes. Limitations, from multiple sources, keep us from exploring the things beyond our realm.
This would all be extremely depressing, if it weren't for the Lord.
Because we believe and trust in the Lord, we know this physical life is not all there is. The greatest, the best of our existence is ahead of us. Once we pass from this mortal life to life eternal, we will be so shocked at how wide the lens of our awareness will be forever!
Mostly, we will see how much more we are aware of the Lord, in us, by us, through us and all around us. This is true now, but as the Scriptures says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
But then, oh, what glories we will see! What wonders we will behold! Things we can't imagine now will be before us! Delightful beauties and glories will abound! We can "hand our hat" on this verse"
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
Our very best days are ahead!
