God's Amazing Umbrella of Grace

My mom and dad moved Saturday into an apartment that is adjoining my sister's house. They didn't have to move far, just six doors or so down their street. Change for me is very hard and especially change that involves physical moves. We moved many times when I was a child and it was always hard for me. So, for me, this move was hard not only because my parents are downsizing but because of the memories that have stayed with me from my childhood. Over the past six months I have had to deal with many emotions. I really don't care where my parents live (as long as it is close to me), nor do I really care how large their house is. What has been hard is the thought of not having all our holidays in their home, something that is the tradition in our family. Another issue that I struggled with was the grands and great-grands not being able to stay with mama and daddy when they come for a visit...face it, family and friends come to see them not us! We benefit from their visits but they are here to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma and staying with them always has been special. And then seeing mama having to part with things she has treasured. Now, make no mistake, my parents are giving people and material possessions have no holds on them, but as their daughter it has been a struggle for me. Every piece of china, every crystal goblet, every serving dish has a history and a story attached to it...it just has been really hard!

I was sharing with a friend the night before the move and we had a discussion on how many families go through this same thing. We remarked how you don't hear much about it though when it is fresh and still emotional. At church on Sunday, a friend of ours and my parents, inquired how the move went. As I was sharing that it went well, she told me her and her husband are fixing to make a move similar to the one that my parents just made. I shared with her how I had been struggling and that her grown children may have similar feelings. Again, there have been so many emotions and I was unprepared for any of them. That is why I wanted to write about it now...even as my eyes are filling with tears. Change is hard...the end of one season and the start of another...

And yet, as it looked as if the storm would sweep me away on Friday, that night God opened up his umbrella and held it over me...His big, wide, sturdy umbrella of GRACE! God knowing all things knew I was just standing there in the storm getting soaked and battered and blown about. He covered me and gave me shelter. Friday night he ministered to me and gave me a good night's rest...the first one in many nights. And Saturday morning even though he brought the sun out he kept me tucked tightly under His umbrella. He brought order and organization and people to help with cheerful attitudes. The servants that gave eagerly of their time and talents laughed and joked and fellow-shipped. They went above and beyond just moving...their attitudes showed the love they have in their hearts for my mom and dad. Somehow God managed to add some square footage to my parent's new home...we were able to move items in that we didn't know we were going to be able to fit. And we still have room for more special treasures with heartwarming memories....we serve a God that can do anything! And when the official move was over we able to all share pizza together...some twenty of us...just like the other special days we have had all these past years...praising God and sharing a meal together...we serve an awesome God.

So on Saturday, June 13,2015 God brought out His big, mighty, blessing filled umbrella packed with grace and held my family under it. Thank you to all who love and serve my family and praise to you our Lord Jesus who knows when every storm is coming and has us covered; covered with his grace!

 " 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."