Beautiful

Today was a beautiful day. Sunshine, a new niece, my babe cut her first two teeth, the girls had their first swimming lessons of the season, and we enjoyed a BBQ with good friends. A beautiful day of blessings.

Yesterday was a day of waiting... Waiting to hear from my "baby" brother for news of the induction and labour/delivery, this being another high risk pregnancy for my sister-in-law... Waiting to hear from a good friend as she awaited news of a major decision that has been a long-time coming and a longstanding prayer request... Yesterday I took the kids to the park before lunch and enjoyed the sunshine as I continued to prayerfully and anxiously wait. Funny to have two things I've been praying about for months both come to a head on the same day. If only all prayer requests had a date when you knew the answer was due!

The funny thing is that yesterday I woke up feeling like it was going to be a great day filled with blessings. I don't particularly get strong feelings like that often, but yesterday I did. It felt like God would just be pouring out His favour down on many and be in the business of answering prayers.

If only I always had such confidence in how things would turn out when I pray and life feels uncertain. I'm getting used to God's answer being WAIT, instead of a quick resounding YES! Often times, I'm learning that the waiting has been to prepare me, to mould me, to stretch me... deepening my faith and reliance on God by the time the answer finally does come. Maybe it's easier to be confident in expecting an unmistakable yes when praying for others then when you're the one in the midst of a crisis, decision, or life event (major or minor). I suppose that's why it's so important to have others around us praying for us as well, so that their confidence encourages and strengthens our faith when we need it!

So yesterday I waited, expecting big things from God... and God did bring upon blessings but mostly in the trivial (like dry pants on my preschooler after a few accident-filled days!). Sure enough, I still had to wait... wait another day for the beautiful healthy baby girl who made her appearance early morn!... and wait longer still for my friend's situation to get resolved. So we keep praying and waiting for that one, all the while thanking God for the blessings and answered prayers of the day! Beautiful blessings indeed!