Rain, brought out the sun.

Where we live it has been several weeks since we have seen rain. The large storm I spoke of a few weeks ago hit south of here while I was visiting but missed our home. As in a lot of other places, our grass has been brown, lifeless and very crunchy. Our garden is always looking sad. Every cloud that goes by, passes with a prayer to drop some rain.

It has been said that this is one of the worst droughts in over 50 years. It makes me think of all the famines the bible speaks of. We had hoped to have been feasting out of our garden by now, but everything is growing so slowly, if at all. We water once in a while, but need to conserve the water we have. Now the word famine makes my mouth feel dry and my stomach growl.

Well, yesterday I was driving home from a dentist appt., when in the distance I saw a dark cloud. Seeing a dark cloud really gets you excited around here. I kept my eye on in and saw that if it kept up, it just might hit us. The cloud grew quite large and and was now worthy or being called a storm cell. Beautiful rain shafts could be seen in the distance.

As I got closer to home, people were out on their lawns in groups. Some were standing and pointing. Others sitting in lawn chairs. All were watching the storm. It looked like it would actually hit us. All the other storms went just north or south of us, but there was hope that this one would make it.

Soon we heard thunder in the distance and my kids started squealing with delight. Even they knew how badly we needed rain.

I pulled into my driveway to find my husband standing outside watching as so many others. The kids and I piled out of the car and joined him. It was so close now that the sky was very dark and the sun and its rays were blotted from view. At this point we felt our hearts would break if the storm didn't reach us.

The wind picked up and blew in some deliciously cool air. Our AC has been broken, so this coolness was welcomed with great thanks.

Dark clouds were over and around us now. Lightening, thunder, wind.....no rain. I prayed within me for rain...any rain. Then it sprinkled. Then grew into rain and a great downpour.

Rain.

My husband and I were sending up prayers of thanks. The kids were dancing and singing. Rain. It brought out the sun in a way for us. It went on for a good half hour, much to our delight. We were so happy.

Praise God for the rain.

Be careful what you pray for.....

Monday night I lay in my bed crying. I had reached a low point. My weight has continued to climb despite my efforts. I was at my wits end praying that God would give me a way. I told myself that if God gave me direction on this I would follow it, no matter how difficult or crazy. I prayed for help because obviously whatever I was doing wasn't working and now I had to rely on God(Prov. 3:5-6), as I should've done from day one.
I kept telling myself I was relying on God. I kept building the illusion that I had everything under control. I didnt and I don't.
Lately life has been dealing us one blow after another and I can scarcely catch my breath. Things going wrong with the house, storms, illness, injury, debt, and so on. I tend to take all my worries and focus my frustration at my personal faults, such as my weight. So with all of this going on I was zeroed in on my weight. I tip the scales at 242 lbs, so it was an easy target.
Well, Tuesday afternoon I had an appt. with my neurosurgeon. I always dread going to see a doctor, they are expensive, you have to be weighed, and they take one look at you and think they know who you are.
I arrived at my doctors office with my kids in tow. We waited in the waiting area for quite a while. Finally we were called back.
We sat in the room and waited. Then the doctor came in. He was a thin, short man with snow white hair and a cheerful bounce in his step. He whirled into the room and greeted me and my kids. Then he sat down at a small countertop in the room. We talked about my migraines and my family history. We also discussed the calcium in my brain. Then we turned and looked at me and said that we needed to discuss my weight.
I felt my face get hot and a lump form in my throat. I hate having my faults pointed out when I am TRYING to fix them. Actually I hate having my faults pointed out at all. I think most people would feel the same. I felt tears welling up and my throat ached. I was only half listening to him. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. I didn't care.
As I sat there fighting back tears of hurt and pride, I remembered my prayer. I had asked for this very thing. This wasn't how I expected it but is it ever? How often do we look the answer to our prayers in the face then reject it? I fought back and swallowed my pride and prayed for the strength to listen and be kind.
The doctor was being gentle with his comments. He wasn't frustrating like when you've gained 50 lbs and people claim they can't tell. He wasn't accusing like I had never tried to change. He was forward, informative and sympathetic. It was amazing.
I listened carefully and he wanted me to get a book that he wrote and read it, then follow it. He told me some of the ideas of the diet, or non-diet as he called it. I have to eat mostly fruits and veggies. Some beans, nuts, and whole grains. The tricky part is NO MEAT. So I have to become a vegetarian. No dairy, processed foods and no oils either. So I can expect to be growing a fluffy white tail and long ears any day.
This is what I asked for. It is going to be SO HARD. I said I would do it though. I asked, God answered and now I have to act on it. I will update you on how it goes. Even though it will be really hard, if it works, it will be worth it.
God hears our prayers. He answers prayers. It is up to us to listen and watch for the answers. When we see them, we must act on them, even when its not the answer you were expecting. What are you praying for?