“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter.
Who would think that those branches
would turn green again and blossom,
but we hope it, we know it” (Goethe).
If I can take artistic license here, I would love to change just one little word in Goethe’s quote . . .fate. Let’s replace that with faith. Sometimes, my faith resembles a fruit tree in winter. Sometimes my faith feels like it is standing out in the freezing cold without a coat. And right at that moment, God steps in and wraps a warm blanket around my shoulders–assuring me that He is my hope. Assuring me that winter will pass and the blossom will come. Mesmerizing me with His extravagant goodness by making a rose bloom amid my winter.
Last week, I received an email from Liberty University stating that they were decreasing tuition for the 2009-2010 school year. Yes, I said decreasing. Then, yesterday, I received an email from Gordon College stating that due to the economic crisis in America, they were being forced to increase tuition for the 2009-2010 school year. As I read through the email, I smiled. Oh, Lord God, you are amazing. You see the beginning and the end. And everything in between. As I have written in previous posts, my son, Grant, left in August to attend Gordon College, but after 4 long months of living in the North, decided he didn’t want to be so far from home and everything familiar. Leaving his college soccer career behind him, he took a giant leap of faith and transferred to Liberty University—-to be with his twin sister, Brooke. After receiving the email, I phoned Grant to say, “Son, thank you. You really heard from God. Listen to what He has done.”
God, the HOPE of my heart, saw that the economic crisis was going to slam our kitchen design business of twenty years. He saw that our family was going to have to dig deep and withstand financial strain (again). He saw that Liberty would extend grace and lighten the financial burden of college tuition. For that, I breathe gratitude today. I breathe reliance on an Almighty God who knows the beginning and the end.
Now, all three of us — Brooke, Grant and myself — will be able to continue furthering our education. Is the financial crisis any better today? Does it look like a fruit tree in winter? Yes, but God has caused a rose to bloom in the midst of it. Take heart, your situation will turn green and blossom soon. I just know it.