Lessons In Birthdays and Faith

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One
who is leading.” ~ Oswald Chambers ~

Quite a few years ago God gave me a lesson in faith. This quote reminds me so much of that day so I wanted to share it with you all.

It was my 25th birthday. I was pregnant, my marriage was in shambles, and I was a little on the tired and worn out side so my family decided to cheer me up and celebrate my birthday in a big way. My grandpa called me up and told me to be at his house for 2 PM.

"Why?", I asked
"Don't worry about it", he said. "Just be there!"

Grumbling... I did what I was told. What I found when I arrived was a pleasant surprise. A chocolate cake was on the table and my whole family was there. They had planned a surprise birthday party for me. Notice I mentioned the chocolate cake first! ;o)

I love my grandpa. He has been there for me like no one else has. I can't even begin to tell you all the good things he has done for me. I trusted him with my whole heart so when he told me to put on a blind fold I just smiled and turned around so he could tie it on me. Then he took my hand and led me outside.

Now I didn't know what to expect. Was it a car? Was it an animal? Why the blindfold. Why not just tell me what I was going outside for? I just had to trust grandpa. I knew that if he was in charge of it that it would turn out great!

He lead me to the carport and had me hold out my hands. Then I touched what felt like a ball wrapped in paper. Then I was handed what felt like a small bat. "A pinata!" I yelled. I heard laughing and knew I must be right.

Then I was told to swing. Grandpa was quite the prankster so he kept moving it out of reach. I wang as hard as I could and nothing happened. I almost fell over and still didn't land a hit. I was getting so frustrated. Then I filtered out the noise and could hear my grandpa shouting at me to swing high or low, left or right.

BAM!!!

I heard the sound of candy hitting the ground. I pulled the blindfold up and began to fuss at grandpa for the frustrating experience I just had. "Do you know how hard it was to break that thing papaw?" I took off the mask and looked down. " I mean do you..." "uh, um"


"AAAGhhhh!!"
You will never guess what I saw.


Pink undergarments!! Obviously my grandpa and sister thought this was the greatest prank ever. My child found the undies first. Grandpa thought this was hilarious!

"What is this mama?" Gevan asked.
Then I heard my brother say, "I don't know but I'm shook!" (I mean look at his face!) My sister is behind the camera and my brother is staring at her like, "Are you crazy?"


I took the undies from Gevan (he stole them back later) and walked over to pick up the brazier and some really great smelling candles that were also in the pinata.


Jacob loved it. My sweet little man picked up every Dum Dum he could find. Look at the smile on that face! (I gave Grandpa the denist's bill ;o) Then Gevan had a ball playing with the oversized undies (they were new!). He said "They are so soft moma." He just kept rubbing them on his little face and smiling. He had us laughing so hard! It was so much fun and I was so excited to see the looks on my baby's faces that I forgot all about the frustration I had felt earlier while trying to bust open the pinata.


Then, my grandpa took me inside and gave me a gift that was priceless. He had put a necklace on lay-a-way for me and paid on it every week for 2 months. He told me that since he loved me so much and because I was such a good sport and I always try to make everyone else's birthday special that he wanted to do the same for me.

That was the best birthday I have ever had and to think... I almost ruined it by getting irritated.

God wants us to just trust Him. Let Him take us by the hand. Listen for His voice and do what He says to do. He loves us and will never do anything to hurt us. Besides, you never know just how much joy you will receive until the task has been accomplished. You also never know just how many others will get joy out of your obedience!

In Memory of my grandfather, William C. Grant
6/3/32 - 9/11/02

I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31