New Gig

     It took me a while to realize that when God delayed answering my prayers it was because He was working on an upgrade.  When our family had grown to the point that we needed to look for another house, I had just a few requests: 1) a second bathroom  2) windows I could open and close by myself--Reed traveled frequently and our old sliders were sometimes stuck open or closed for weeks at a time 3) a view so I could see far--it helped me cope with the closed in feeling of white, winter skies.  We looked at houses.  We looked for a year.  I started reminding God that our unsaved friends were finding houses and we were the Christians.  Where was our house?  Fortunately we had one of the good realtors who stuck with us and didn't try to talk us into something we didn't want.  I wondered if I would recognize the house when I saw it or if I would just grow to love it gradually--like I did my husband. 
     Then one August day I got a phone call about a house on Leisure Drive.  When I pulled in the driveway I knew, it was the house.  I made two offers on it before Reed even got to see it.  Not only did it have two bathrooms, but the second one was in our bedroom, our own private bath.  Not only could I open the windows, but they were high quality and had a beautiful view.  Not only a view, but a beautiful, quiet place to walk, the feel of being in the country but the convenience of being in town.  Our house far exceeded anything we ever expected to have.  The reason it took so long was because the owner got divorced, remarried, moved, and desperate enough to sell it for a price we could afford.  God had been preparing it for us all the while I had been whining at Him.
    Another upgrade was when we were looking for a replacement car.  I wanted one with less than 100k miles.  Most of ours were over 100k by the time we could afford them.  As an added whim I told God I liked Olds or Buick, but anything would do.  A couple in our church sold us their Olds Cutlass.  It had 43,900 miles on it.  I was beginning to understand the upgrade principle.  Just as we as parents don't just grudgingly give our children necessities of life, but delight to give them things we know would please them, God doesn't just give us what we need, He cares about our dreams too.  Everything God has wanted for me is better than what I wanted for myself.  The trick is remembering that during the wait.
     That explains why we began this trip in a small room at an older Comfort Inn and are now in an executive suite in Gig Harbor.  It has a walk in closet, gas fireplace, wet bar, and vaulted ceilings.  Instead of eating free hard boiled eggs and instant oatmeal for breakfast, I'm ordering free crab cakes and seafood omelets.  God gives free upgrades and He knows better than we do what will make us truly happy.  I am sure I will still whine when prayers don't get answered according to my plans or time schedules, but hopefully not for long.  Trust has become my new gig.