Becky White- Legos

Becky White and her boys.

Again, I just love it how God is so good to reinforce our devotion this morning with our guest speaker's message. You couldn't help notice how Becky beams with pride when she speaks about her handsome boys. She gave us such a great visual to draw from as she explained in detail about the treasured "Lego pirate ship" that she and her son, Trevor had so diligently built together years ago. When the pieces came crashing down, the Legos became a metaphor for all the pieces of ourselves that we so desperately try to hang onto in order to maintain that perfect picture. As women, we seem to have a tendency to try and make it look like we have it all together don't we?

I know first hand the disappointment of letting go of some of my dreams. You see, in my perfect world, I would have been married when I was 24 or 25 to a fabulous husband that loved me for me. I would also own a beautiful home and have two bright and gorgeous kids. Well, life didn't exactly go as I had planned. Today, I can honestly say that I am so thankful to God for those unanswered prayers. I didn't end up getting married (to my fabulous husband) until the day before my 31st birthday! We then didn't own our first home together until almost 6 years later. And the two kids? Pregnancy didn't come easy for me. God's plan was to close my womb so that He could open my heart to adoption. The two kids He gave me have been more than a Godsend. They have brought my husband and I more joy and love than we could have ever imagined. And God continues to use my kids daily to show me sweet glimpses of Himself. Looking back, I learned so much through the heartbreak. Most of all, I learned what it truly meant to surrender to the Lord. It's funny. I remember that gloriously broken moment when I finally said, "OK, Lord. I'm ready to do it your way." Whatever you have in store for me, I am ready and willing to see it through." It was only then that I began to experience freedom and peace like I had never before. And after freedom and peace, came blessing after blessing.

Becky shared that God only brings good out of our surrender and that even though it may be difficult to empty our hands to Him, it will all be worth it. God has a vision and a plan that far exceeds what we can even dream up for ourselves. So much of the time, we are still on the floor, adamantly looking for those broken pieces and trying to rebuild our perfect dream- whatever that may be.

I wish I could say that I have learned my lesson and I no longer build dreams without God's guidance but that wouldn't be true. My own desires and self will tends to creep back into my life every now and again and it's times like this morning that remind me that life is all about learning how to surrender. It's only then that we can fulfill our true purpose here- to bring glory and praise to our Heavenly Father.

Let's give ourselves permission to fail sometimes, to be broken, to need help, to cry out to the Lord, and to grow in the beauty of learning what it means to surrender.