I lost an eyelash this morning. Not really a big deal. But I lost an eyelash this morning and it taught me a huge lesson on what really matters.
My husband and I have been pretty diligent about staying out of debt for the last 7 years. We worked really hard to pay off student and car loans and credit cards. It took us a good while to get there, but when we did it was very liberating and we were able to begin saving for emergencies.
We’ve had our share of car breakdowns, vet bills, and home repairs. Anyone living in the free world experiences these things. But God always provides. Always.
This year though we’ve had a rough go. Our entire air conditioning unit needed to be replaced earlier this Summer giving us a huge $6,000 hit to our emergency fund. We reluctantly paid it but we were thankful not to go into debt and to have cool air. Southern summers are brutal, y’all. (Oh, how I love them!)
We slowly began to rebuild our emergency fund from it’s crippling blow, but life seems to want to beat us up a bit more. Both girls needed braces at the same time. The same. Time!
My oldest started high school along with musical theater and choir and dance and fees, fees, fees!
My husband needs to have surgery within the next few months. If you’ve been living in America the last several years, no doubt you are aware that even if you have insurance your medical bills are nothing short of ridiculous. I could go on since this is my blog and I can. But I won’t.
Also, because of the extreme drought in the Southeast, my house is slowly settling it’s way into the ground and beginning to crumble around my ears. Just say the words “Foundation Repair” and you see dollar signs flash before your eyes. Go ahead. Say them. Right? Dollar signs!
Last weekend both of our cars, BOTH of our cars died on the same day. One is still sitting dead in my driveway.
It’s all a bit overwhelming.
So, we pray. And we plan. And we pick up the things that God has put in our path and try to count it all joy.
We look for ways and anticipate how He will provide for us. We give it all over to the one who gave us our home, our kids and our health in the first place and let Him manage it all.
That’s where you find peace. And you know you have it when you have moments like when you lose an eyelash.
You know you’re supposed to make a wish when you lose one, right? You make a wish and as with your birthday candles you blow it away.
Well, I don’t believe in wishes. I believe in prayer.
So this morning when I lost my eyelash, as I often do, I paused to think about what I should pray for. I was in front of my mirror so I just looked at my reflection and smiled.
Hmmm… Should I pray away my trials? Should I pray for money to fall from the sky?
But I truly didn’t feel like I should waste my ‘wish’ on those material things.
So, I dug around deep inside my soul to find my purest desire. I drew in my breath and prayed.
“I pray for my children to grow up to know Christ.”
I surprised myself, honestly. It was in that moment when I realized I don’t really need money. Or health. Or even a house.
I need the assurance of spending an eternity with the ones I love the most. I need to know that when they grow up and have trials of their own they will know they should lean on Christ the way my husband and I have tried to these last few months. I need to know that they are taken care of even in those times when I fail to do so.
Only the saving knowledge of Christ can provide any of that. Along with the peace He so lovingly provides during life’s most difficult trials. And all we have to do to get that peace is pray, trust and wait for Him to send the provisions He has already promised.
How has God provided for you during your difficult times? What did you learn from it?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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