I was
traipsing up the mountain through a cane field in Kenya because its owner
wanted me to see the vastness of sugar cane field. On most days, this would
have been a welcomed endeavor, but it was the end of the rainy season in
Africa, and with each step I seeped deeper and deeper into the mud. Trying my
best to keep the bottom of my skirt from getting muddy, I followed his lead. I
guess our guide must have realized that I was a little put out that my shoes
that were once white were now stained with mud from top to bottom. He looked at
me and said, “For a Kenyan, the mud is a sign of a blessing. It tells us that
God will bless us tomorrow with a bountiful crop.
Ok, now I
felt like a heel. I was supposed to be encouraging him, and here he was not
only putting me in my place but teaching me a great lesson.
Today was the
Back to School Bash in our community which means slip and slides, inflatables,
gaming stations, face painting and more! We were all in motion when the rains
began to fall. After trying vigorously to keep our booth dry, we finally gave
up and decided to leave early. As I jogged across the field to my car drenching
wet, I was reminded of this man’s statement.
How many of
life’s “inconveniences” does God use to bring blessings in disguise? Yes, in
our mind, the Back to School Back might have had a better turn out if the
weather had been dry, but what if God designed it that way for a reason. What
if conversations happened because there were fewer people that wouldn’t have otherwise?
I don’t know and maybe I’m overspiritualizing this, but I wonder how many times
I miss God’s blessings because I am too frustrated at being inconvenienced.
Labels: Inspirational
