Answered Prayers

When I was about 12 or 13 years old, my parents went out shopping one evening. Before they left they mentioned that they had hoped to find winter boots for me and my sister. When they returned from their shopping trip, I ran to the living room with great excitement about the new boots I was sure they had bought me. They began taking things out of the bag and out came a shoebox that carried a nice new pair of winter boots...for my sister. I glanced into the empty bag and quickly realized there were no boots for me.

I remember this day vividly because I instantly got an attitude with my parents about not buying me boots. I went to my room with a huge pout on my face and an even bigger attitude. After rolling my eyes and slamming (gently slamming cuz Momma didn't play that), a few drawers and doors, my Mom realized that something was awry. I kept my attitude for most of the night until finally my mother came into my room and sat on my bed.

She asked me what was wrong.

"Nothin," I said.

Then my mother said, "Yes it is! Why are you walking around here with an attitude?"

I managed to whisper (and I mean I whispered), "Cuz I didn't get any boots."

Now this is the part I remember most and I can still hear the disappointment in my Mother's voice when she said, "We looked around all night trying to figure out how we could get boots for both of you." Your sister doesn't have any shoes to get her through the winter and you do so we had to buy hers today. Your dad is going to get your boots when he gets paid next month"

Right then I felt horrible. Even at 12/13 years old, I realized how selfish I was being. I realized there was more behind the blessing than what I could see with my eyes.
True to his word, my father bought me a new pair of boots about a month or so later...when the timing was right. I  think I was more proud of the boots then than I would have been if I had received them when I wanted them.

Sometimes it can be frustrating waiting on God. I know what "the word" says about patience, trust and God's timing, but in the midst of the waiting, there are times when naturally, I begin to wonder if God is going to come through and why God doesn't come through...just like the boots from my parents.  I know that there is more to the blessings that God has in store for me than what I can see and what I imagine for myself. I am grateful today for answered prayers.

One of the greatest blessings is to be able to be happy even when things aren’t going the way we planned. –Joyce Meyers