MOORE — The multi-colored leaves glisten as the sun shines through the trees. The air is cool and the gentle breeze blows the fallen leaves into piles just waiting for a child to jump into.
In less than 24 hours it will be Thanksgiving. This past year has flown by in warp speed. So many things have transpired and there is so much to be thankful for our; hearts swell.
For family, friends, health and financial blessings, but even more than these bountiful gifts given to us from Our Heavenly Father, our hearts are thankful for the simple things.
Like knowing when we pray that God always hears us.
Like the assurance that Our Heavenly Father watches from above, ready to lend a hand when it is needed.
Like the comfort that comes from only God Above.
Like the peace that “passeth all understanding,” that holds us together during our most intense trials.
Like the Hand that holds ours when we reach up to Him.
Like the knowledge that He will never leave us or forsake us.
So many times you have come to our rescue this past year, Dear Lord. Not just for the major catastrophes, but even those small situations that we know we got through only because of Your Grace.
This this time of Thanksgiving our hearts are full of gratitude. Thank you for each and every blessing, both great and small.
Life’s detours
When I turned onto 36th Avenue NW, I knew something was wrong. Cars were backed up and many made U-turns in an attempt to avoid the snarl.
After hedging forward at a turtle’s pace, the reason why was suddenly clear. The “Road Closed” sign blocked both sides of the road. Drivers had to turn left into a subdivision or make a U-turn to find another route.
The middle-aged driver in the car ahead of me looked confident as he turned left, so I followed his lead. My bad.
He took me through a winding neighborhood and after about 10 minutes we wound up right back where we started from. It was obvious I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t familiar with this area.
Now, if my wonderful husband had been the one driving he would have known where to go.
I’ve never seen anyone with a built in GPS system like his. Whenever we go on vacation in a place we’ve never been before, he can find his way around just as if he’d lived there all his life.
Some people have this gift. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.
I turned around and took a street that I thought I remembered my husband taking when the traffic was backed up on the highway. It snaked around and just when I was about ready to give up I noticed the water park off to the left. Ah, familiar territory. But to get to it you had to wrap around a few streets and finally the street I searched for came into view and I made it to my desired destination thirty minutes later than usual, but at least I was able to get my bearings again.
Life throws us some dandy detours. Sometimes we stray so far from the path it seems like we are never going to make it but then God steps in and by His Grace, He shows us the way back.
Some detours are set up just to keep us distracted, anything to make us lose our focus and to keep us from staying in close contact with Our Heavenly Father.
Of all times this is when we need His direction most, yet it is easy to become overwhelmed and down heartened.
The Greatest GPS system in the world is ready and waiting to provide directions to get you out of this slump and back to a richer, fuller life.
Wanda Billbe is a regular contributor to the Moore American.
