DAY 281

Stay the course. Even when you hit a bump…stay the course.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

We are embarking on a new adventure. It’s a little risky and a little scary, but I know it is time to step out without fear, and in faith. Five years ago my mom went through a horrible divorce (emotionally horrible), and a year and half ago she lost her job (she was laid off). She went through a rough time, but she has come through it with grace (despite moments of discouragement and anger). I feel in my heart that it is her time to find her path, and realize her dream of owning her own business. She is nervous because of her age, and she is not sure she has the wherewithal to accomplish this goal. This is where my brother and I come in. Why? Because no matter what went on in mom’s life, my brother and I always came first, she sacrificed so much to help us have the opportunity to fulfill our dreams. I think it’s only right that we give her a chance to fulfill hers, before she no longer has the ability to do so. She is an excellent cook (and she’s Jamaican = YUM). So tomorrow we are doing a test run to see if people would be interested in buying her food. It would take too long to explain in detail how God provided the perfect opportunity for her to showcase her skill, but needless to say, He did. I am excited and scared, but all new journeys bring these feelings. Today I thought about the path we had to travel to get us to this point. I thought of the nights mom cried feeling like a burden (to my brother and I), and feeling lonely (because she expected to have a life partner). But then I remembered this: God is the restorer of lost things. He will restore the years the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25). We lost a lot to get to this moment on the journey, but looking back I see how we’ve grown, what we’ve gained. He is restoring it all back.

“The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil. Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (Joel 2:24-25).

So what am I thankful for today? Moments of restoration.