Reflections

During the next few days counter offers flew back and forth between the buyer and the sellers. Mary was excited as an agreeable price was coming closer and closer. As Mary anxiously waited for the response to her and Robin’s counter offer she had time to reflect on how things seemed to be divinely transpiring.
One of the first things that Mary was reminded of occurred way back in January: Mary’s ex husband had sent her a generous gift. Her ex had promised her “way back when” that if he ever sold the cottage he would send her a small portion of money from the sale of it. Though Peter had not sold the cottage he had heard of her financial predicament from her accountant and sent her some money in advance. It was such a blessing. Mary and Robin had spent half of it on bills and little things and the other half they had given to the church.
Mary and Robin had sewn into the kingdom. Was this the fruits of their labour?
Mary was also reminded of a smaller but still significant thing: on her birthday her sister had sent her a gift certificate from a web site that sold books. Mary had purchased two “cottage” decorating books! She had just been looking at one the other day. She often would sit going over their pretty pages full of wonderful ideas. Oddly enough she had this desire these last months, as well, to paint everything white in her house.
Now she realized she would not be painting this house white but the cottage with all its dark tongue and groove walls. Mary just shook her head in amazement as these things all seemed to tie together as the moment was coming and they would own the cottage. Oh, they would still have to sell their home but that didn’t stop Mary from believing that this little English style house would soon be theirs.
Now on Sunday morning as Mary dressed for church she considered how amazing God was. She could not wait until tomorrow. The real estate agent wasn’t going to bring an offer in on Sunday but would be back on the holiday Monday with the counter offer. Mary watched Smokey already full of vim and vinegar playing at her feet unaware of the new environment that possibly awaited his future. Mary smiled. Soon they would all be moving on the next step in God’s journey for their life. Mary couldn’t wait. Yes, there was lots of money and a ton of work needed. Somehow Mary knew that this was really about neither but was more about trusting God and being in relationship with Him. Though that could be painful it was also very exciting to journey with God and get to know Him and His mighty power better. It would be another story worth telling. For now she had to get herself moving as she had to pick up Carolyn and get to church!
Dealing with telling her friend Carolyn had been a little more difficult than she thought and though Carolyn supported her Mary heard the sadness in her friend’s voice. Despite this Mary had to do what was before her. What Mary realized was that many times a momentous moment for one person whether it be a change of venue, a new job, or even a death was often just as significant for another person. Mary looked back to how Bobbie’s death had changed Mary’s life so much so that she closed her business of eleven years and went to university for 7 years! Mary didn’t know what was going to happen to Carolyn but knew it wasn’t in her hands. She must trust God to do what He was doing and follow where He led.
But for now and for today she was going to live in the moment, enjoy her friend’s company as they communed at church, and trust God to do what He was doing in all their lives. With that thought in mind Mary quickly got up because she still had not taken her two dogs for a walk. ”Up and at’im”, Mary said to herself, and off she went making a galloping motion with her hands as she went.