From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
I had a good conversation recently at the gym with a woman who had been away for a few days, on an overnight trip with her husband, to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
They had taken a couple of vacation days and made some plans for an overnight getaway, complete with time at the beach, a nice dinner out, and accommodations at a quaint bed and breakfast establishment in the town where they went.
Everything was going well until the late afternoon.
A storm started to roll in, chasing them from the beach.
Then, as they got into nice clothes for their special dinner, the skies opened up, the storm moved in, and the power went out at their B&B.
In fact, power was out in the entire community.
Dinner had to be cancelled so they ordered a pizza, which took 90 minutes to arrive.
By then, they were sitting in their dark, stifling-hot room with cell phone flashlights the only way they could see each other and their modest meal.
They toughed it out until power could be restored about 7 a.m. the next day.
I was feeling really bad for her when she concluded her story with these words, “Brian, this anniversary trip was not at all what we had imagined and hoped for, but the main thing was that we were together, and that was ultimately what mattered for us.”
Ironically, I had prayed for this couple prior to their departure, that the Lord would give them a “memorable” time away for their anniversary.
I guess I got my prayer answered, although not as I had thought.
Her wonderful attitude, which to me is why this trip was most memorable, reminded me of the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Life happens, and not always the way we want it to, but we can still find a silver lining if we learn to adjust our expectations.
It’s all about the attitude!
