It was about 14 to 16 years ago, I was a single person living in San Diego. My two daughters were grown, one in Alabama and one in Chicago, so of course, my grandchildren were with them. I had good friends but felt a deep sense of loneliness because I missed my family.
My church at the time was a good starter church, but not a lot of thorough biblical teaching. My job was good, but at the end of the day, loneliness would set in again and again. I began to wonder what my purpose was away from my loved ones. Many times I was content and kept busy with events after work. For many years that was enough…for a while. Depression was setting in until one day I reached out to God and told Him that I can’t do this anymore. I need my family! It’s interesting to me how often I forget to ASK God and try to figure everything out for myself. You can probably guess that God stepped in and answered my prayer. Why do I find this so astonishing that our perfect Heavenly Father will go to any length to bless us with more than we could ask?
About two days later I received a phone call from my oldest daughter saying that they were moving to San Diego! Did I hear that right? My daughter and her husband who never cared for San Diego and thought it was too conservative were now coming here. Graduating from college in San Francisco, her views were fairly liberal to say the least!
Well, those years were some of the best years of my life. My first grandchild, Ava, was about four years old. The times were precious and magical as we played and imagined the most wonderful thoughts and the most fun make-believe games. Those years together were priceless, and God blessed us richly! He answered my prayers in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It is so true that He has better plans for us than we could ever expect.
So, again I wonder, why am I so surprised when God answers me in the most perfect way? Maybe I’ll never understand that as long as I live on this side of Heaven but I’m so thankful that He is my Perfect Heavenly Father and also thankful that His ways are not our ways!