Our Extremely Brief, Very Short, Momentary Beach Holiday

           For my Christmas gift, my sweet husband surprised me with plane tickets destined for Sanibel Island for a welcomed reprieve from the Alabama wintry chill and gray skies. (This photo shows the awe-inspiring view from our romantic, ocean cottage.) Our toes touching sand, jaunts aboard a bicycle-built-for-two, and seafood indulgences came to a sudden halt, sadly to say, when Phillip quietly announced, “I’m afraid I have a kidney stone.”

            I ran like a mad man with his hair on fire to pack our bags, turn in the cottage keys, and get us off that island; all the while praying, “Lord, please help Phillip and please get us back home!”

Our merciful God guided us through making arrangements for the sooner-than-anticipated return and even held back Phillip’s pain until we arrived in Birmingham, where he birthed that ominous, little pebble.

Lessons learned from our extremely brief, very short, momentary beach holiday:

1.              Pray first in every situation.

2.              Be thankful for every blessing - no matter how small or brief.

3.              Be thankful that you serve a powerful, merciful, faithful God who never leaves you nor forsakes you!

4.              Be thankful for family and friends who love you and pray for you.

5.              Trust that God is in control and works to accomplish His purposes even when it feels disappointing or inconvenient.

6.              Stay flexible so you won’t get bent out of shape!

7.              In the future, make sure you pack pain medicine. J