Finding meaning in the mundane trials

It rained during the night and we awoke to a windy and gray day. Shortly after the kids went off to school someone honked in front of our house, and I ran to out to see that our front gate was open and Benny, our Malamute pup, was standing at the end of our driveway.

I called him in and locked the gate – either the wind blew the gate open or Benny managed to open it.

It was then I heard the loud, disgruntled voice from across the street. “Young lady …” I was told to take better care of my dog in no uncertain terms. All I could do was nod my head in agreement.

Sigh. It wasn’t even 9 o’clock.

Inside, lying on my desk was the bill for my daughter’s tuition – 23 times more than what it used to be. We switched her from a public Czech school to a private American Christian school. How would we manage with the added expense?

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

It’s discouraging to get yelled at and rather than wallow in the resentment of it, I can choose to forgive and do something to make sure the gate remains locked.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.”

God has always been faithful to provide. Why worry now? We were able to make this month’s payment. I can choose to thank Him for that.

Yes, I can choose to look up, not to the overcast sky but to the Creator who made it all. It’s in these every day mundane things that I need to remember that what matters most is the unseen.

“For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Co. 4: 17

I remember my calling to pray for the families in my neighborhood and to love my neighbor as myself. My daughter and the Christian education we are investing are worth it.

And when the eyes of my heart focus on the unseen, I’m more aware of the invisible hand that guides our lives. Nothing happens by chance. The lady yelling at me propels me to make sure that our gate is firmly locked to ensure the safety of our pup.

The doorbell rings, and I hear a car honking. It’s the postman. He’s found Benny running in the fields on the other side of our cul-de-sac and brought him home. I’m shocked because the front gate is locked but the one in the backyard leading to the forest is open.

I express my heartfelt thanks. For the postman to see our pup in the middle of the morning and to care enough to call him and bring him home – that’s got to be the invisible hand of God watching over us.

Whatever life throws you today, take heart my friend. There is more to what is seen with the naked eye.

We see in part now but then we will see in full, and what awaits us is eternal glory!