Catch the foxes for us—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15
It seems that God has a sense of humor after all. Day two was a bust. As bad as I wanted and needed everything to go right…it went wrong. Mornings are my most productive time and it quickly became obvious that Monday morning and afternoon were not going to be productive…except to fuel and feed my frustration. None of the circumstances were life threatening, nor were they going to matter in eternity, and they weren’t going to change the world. However, they had left me wondering what was God up to. I just missed the part that He had enrolled me in the school of faith.
Tuesday, day three of “Three Days” began better—not because anything had changed but maybe, just maybe I had. I got up and prepared the usual way. Coffee, check. God time, check. Breakfast, check. Before I knew it, it was time to head to the office and see what God had in mind. Something told me it might be different. When I arrived at the office, made a cup of coffee—first priority—and restarted my Apple computer for what seemed like the twentieth time. Hmmm. It seemed to be happier so naturally I was happier but happier doesn’t mean the problem was gone. I still had to do the one thing that started this fiasco—updating the church digital sign. I decided to try something different.
About two months ago, I had installed the software that was supposed to talk to the sign on another computer but no matter what I did, it simply wouldn’t talk to the sign. I called the expert and no matter what he did it still wouldn’t talk to the sign. We gave up and I turned it off…until that morning…the morning of day three. Well, figuring I had nothing to lose, I turned the PC on, opened the sign talking software and guess what? They started talking. Like two old friends they started chatting like nothing was ever wrong. And just like that the thing that I had worried and fretted over was in the rearview mirror. Just like that the one thing that I really needed to do was, wait for it, possible. I really couldn’t believe it. There was no explanation but one. God not only heals bodies and creates universes—He works on computers.
I hope you are smiling right now because when all this happened I was. I wrote the computer expert guy and told him the problem was solved and I thought it was a miracle. He agreed. So the bottom line is God proved that He is concerned about the little things that cause frustration and stress. He also proved that even when we are wondering what “He did to us,” He quietly and mysteriously works for us. So the rest of the first part of day three I merrily pressed the keys and fed data to the church sign for all of December and January. Yay. It turns out that people won’t be wondering why the church sign is still wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving.
I am glad that God granted me these three days…even day two…the less than trophy day. That frustrating day set me up to appreciate the miracle day. God used my frustration from day two to fertilize and grow the wonder of day three. In frustration on day two I said, “God why did you do this to me?” At the end of day three I was saying in gratitude, “God, why did you do this for me!” because I am sure I didn’t deserve it. I hope this made sense to you because it was pretty cool. I learned once again that God is God and I am not and that He is good all the time and if I am willing to trust and wait, He is willing to see me through.
So, that is the story of the three days…three days that I am sure all of us at one time or another have both enjoyed and endured. It is a story of how it doesn’t always take a major disaster to derail us on the tracks of life. Sometimes, too often, it is just the little things gone south. Sometimes the little things are more difficult to manage that the monsters that ravage us. It reminds me of one of those good verses in the Old Testament. It says, remember, it isn’t the elephants but the little foxes that spoil the vines and the harvest. I’m just glad that He is a patient loving Father who doesn’t grow weary with my groans or my whines. No, instead the Whisperer whispers, “It’s ok child, don’t worry, big or small, “I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 