Sometimes the best gifts come when you least expect them. Actually, they seem to make for incredible surprises and always arrive right on time. Tonight I got a gift. That out of the blue, totally amazing, just what you needed even though you didn’t know you needed it kind of gift.
My oldest friend in the world is Nicole. She’s actually several months younger than me, but we’ve been friends since the day she was born. We were bald babies together, spent summer afternoons soaking in the pool or running around like banchees at the park. Our parents have been dear friends since high school, the sort of friends who end up being family. Nicole and I grew up in different towns, went to different schools, and spent many years nit seeing each other more that 2 or 3 times a year. The miracle of our second generation friendship is that we have a keen ability to pick up each time exactly where we left off the last. A few years ago I went on a cruise with a bunch of girlfriends- I stayed a couple extra days in San Diego with Nicole, just catching up. Last summer she cane and spent an afternoon with me after I had surgery- just because. And a couple weeks later I watched her walk down the aisle and become a wife. She’s the kind of friend I’ll probably never speak to every day- but she’s the kind that will be in my life forever.
Back to my gift. Let me preface with the fact that this has been an incredibly tough week for me. I have been feeling really discouraged and alone. I’m struggling in my home with feelings of hurt. And tonight I just wanted to be alone in my room- finally get some peace and just rest. Well, life doesn’t really ask me what I want, and clearly God had intended a very special reminder of his tender love for me. Had it been a great week, tonight would have just not been the same.
I was getting ready to leave and saw the UPS truck out front. At 7:00 mind you. My roommate got very excited and knew that he was bringing her new camera. Well he had two packages. One was her camera, the other was for me.
I was so confused! I knew I had not ordered anything recently, certainly nothing from Barnes & Noble. I opened the box and there it was: Living Gluten-Free for Dummies!
I looked at the shipping label. To me, from Nicole. My oldest friend. God used her in a time of weakness to show me His grace and provision. Out of the blue she thought of me. God must gave put me on her heart. And I am truly blessed.
I’m just SO in love with the Father and thankful for the constant reminders of how big He really is.
Thank you, Nicole. Thank you, UPS guy. And mostly thank you Jesus. I would be list in so many ways without you.
