7 months. Approximately 210 days. That's how long ago we started our World Race journey–the day we were accepted. That's how long we've been fundraising, updating our blog, sending out update letters, planning events, and getting to know our July 1 teammates. And that's how long I've been
UNGRATEFUL…
….that's a long time. A lot of complaining and grumbling. A lot of questions, a lot of disappointments. 7 months ago we felt God call us to the World Race to fulfill the next chapter of our lives without so much as an inkling as to how He was going to do it. And in 7 months He's provided more than our minds could fathom. Yet I'm ungrateful.
Let me explain. I grew up learning to appreciate everything I was given because it was never much. I'm almost postivie that "thank you" were two of the first words uttered from my lips as a child. God says to "Give thanks in everything" (I Thessalonians 5:18) because they are blessings from above. This is truth. But for the past 7 months, I've been less than satisfied. I've been ungrateful.
Rewind to today: God has provided $22,500 in support thus far. In only 7 months. That's a huge deal. He's allowed us to speak at a church that was incredibly giving, and we've received TONS of donations for the garage sale we're having this weekend. Yet I look at all this and complain. "Why hasn't He provided MORE support?" or "There's WAY TOO MUCH to organize in this sale!". It's unending. It's sad, really.
I've been chatting with a fellow teammate about my struggle. It's a harsh one with which I need to deal harshly, with which God needs to deal harshly. I have a feeling I'm in for a rude awakening on the trip coming up in less than two months. Jeremy and me both. God is going to skake our cages and make us realize that we, hands down, have it made here in the U.S.of A. and there is absolutely about which we should be complaining or ungrateful.
To those of you who have donated financailly and prayerfully, I apoligize for being so ungrateful. To those of you who donated towards the garage sale we're having this weekend, we appreciate everything you've done. And to Jesus, we are SO THANKFUL for every penny of support you've poured into our account, and we'll praise You for what's to come yet.
From now on, I will look at our account and dance for joy at what He's given. I will go to the garage sale with a smile on my face, glad for all the things left to organize. We could, after all, be sitting in an empty garage this weekend with nothing to sell. I will sing praises to Him, for He is good. He doesn't have to provide all these things, but He does anyway. He's a good God.
He's a good God, and I relearn that every single day. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts, so when He grants them, thank Him. Be unbelievably grateful, for one day you may no longer have that blessing. I'm preaching to myself, too.
Thank You, Lord, for your soft spoken words to my heart lately. They are so good and ever-present, just as You are.
****All donations we receive(d) between April 24th and June 1st will be put into a drawing (to be announced on June 2nd) to win a small package from every country we visit on the World Race!
****(update: for those of you who guessed a finish time for my half marathon that I was not able to compete in due to a fractured tibia, you will be put into the drawing for a prize alongside those who donate(d) between April 24th and June 1st).
