Update: Guess who was in our driveway this morning?

 

Percival!

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