Friends & Family.
Last night, my best friend called from New York to chat. She will be back next month for 2 weeks, but won't be in time to send us off. I'm just glad to hear from her. It isn't cheap calling long distance, so her calls mean a lot.
My aunts and uncles have been remarkably supportive in emotional and practical ways. As a family, we're not known to be a demonstrative lot, so it's really touching to find ourselves reconnecting on a new level of familial trust and goodwill.
We've been blessed to have so many people praying for us, wishing us well and letting us know they're sad to see us go. Isn't it funny how we always need an "occasion" to prompt us into showing our true feelings?
We've had offers of financial assistance, offers of help with packing, offers of rides now we're car-less, friends buying us lunches and dinners and showering us with gifts.
How wonderful it is to be surrounded by so much love!
Things falling into place.
Many are a man's plans, but the Lord directs his steps.
We are learning all the time to let go and let God take care of things. This includes even the tiniest details of the logistics associated with the move. When we started out, we had an overwhelmingly long list of questions and to-do's. That list has been debated over, worked on, updated endlessly over the past weeks, and it's just amazing to see how things which once seemed impossible have now made it to the "done" list.
We still don't have all the answers (can hubby get a job in Melb? can we resolve our investment property dilemma without incurring a huge financial loss? will i have a safe and smooth delivery?), but we're not looking to ourselves for the answers. We're trusting the One who made it possible for us to live, breathe, think and dream. It's enough that He's in control.
The peace that surpasses all understanding.
Some people are incredulous that we're going to Melb "just like that", with practically no safety nets in place. It's a matter of perspective really. How much $ and possessions does a family need to be happy?
Over the weekend, there were write-ups in the papers about families with 7 or 8 kids managing on one income. Hubby and I salute the courage and principles of the parents. Have you noticed how they all say the same thing? That it's doable, but it's not for everyone. That there will be sacrifices and adjustments to expectations. That if you can learn to live with less, you'll actually manage quite well. It's quite a simple recipe for living contentedly, isn't it: cut out the frills, focus on needs. Reminds me of Stephen Covey's Big Rocks principle. Fill your jar with the big rocks first (the things that really matter), and if there's still space, you put in the pebbles (the frills and distractions and negotiables). Not the other way round.
Our peace comes from knowing that God loves us and has promised to meet our needs. (He said nothing about luxuries though!) However rough things get, we can trust in Him to provide, just as He did for the sparrows and the lilies. Let's not impose our own ideas on what we want and what we think we need to make us happy, and just let Him do His work. I suspect we'll be pleasantly surprised when the blessings and provisions start pouring in.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things (food, shelter, clothing) will be added unto you.
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