When my daughter was an infant, we were poor. Not dirt poor, but both parents working for minimum wage poor. Life wasn’t easy; we had challenges that we had to find creative solutions to.
My very good friend did in-home daycare, and she became the caregiver for my baby girl. She also kind of became mine. So many times, I would show up to pick Cloie up, and Russi would say “Hey, I made a lot of extra. Would you like to eat with us?” I would stay, and she would listen.
One day as I was unloading on her (I don’t recall the situation, but vividly remember standing in her front room), she said, “Okay, now let’s find the blessing.” I had no idea how to do that in whatever situation was going on right then, but she proceeded to bring me in, sit me down, coffee me up, and walk me through with prayer.
Some things to know about this lady – she hadn’t had an easy life. It kept throwing lemons at her with the velocity of a pitching machine, but her faith was not flimsy. She knew exactly where the Rock of her Salvation was, and her house was sturdily built on it. She just ground those lemons up and made lemonade! To this day, I love her and am grateful for her love and friendship. Not just for the simple steps that have been crucial to my surviving the lemon-throwers of this world, but for the sweet assurance that even though we are now almost a thousand miles apart, she would bring me in, sit me down, coffee me up, and walk me through whatever my situation is with prayer.
So – get a pen or pencil and a notebook. Come on in, sit down, and let’s find the blessing. Begin with prayer. Has it been a while? Don’t worry. Your Heavenly Father is still here, waiting for you. Keep it short and simple. Just ask for guidance and He will give it. I pray something like this –
“Heavenly Father, thank you for today. Thank you for my ability to pray and to worship you. Please go before me today and help me to see the blessings you have for me, and to be a blessing for someone else. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
James 1: 5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
What is your situation? Write it down. ALL of it. Is it financial? Spiritual? Emotional? Is your marriage shaky? Do you have medical problems?
I won’t tell you that the problem is going to go away. I won’t tell you not to be sad or angry or that all the things you’re feeling don’t matter. What I will tell you is that in every situation, no matter how grim, you can find a blessing. Your Heavenly Father loves you so much, and He brings them to you. Sometimes they’re right in front of you, but many times it’s more like an Easter egg hunt.
I want you to write out your problem. All of it. Take your time, don’t be afraid of somebody reading it and criticizing it or judging you. This is just between you and me and our Heavenly Father. When you’re done, we’ll talk about blessings.
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