A VERY SPECIAL DATE

Oh my!

I was so excited.

Years (and years!) ago, my church was having a Father-Daughter Dinner.

And my dad had agreed to take me.

Now my dad wasn’t one of those mushy kind of guys. He wasn’t particularly demonstrative. He was a little lean on the compliments. So the fact that he was taking me to this dinner was so very wonderful – and I was beyond thrilled!

I felt like a little princess!

My mom had taken me out to buy a whole new outfit. New dress, new socks and shoes. New little white gloves –

I counted off the days...

And then something happened that had never, ever happened before in my entire childhood.

My dad got sick.

Very sick.

We couldn’t go to the dinner.

I was crushed. I remember being mad at my dad – but not really – and then mad at myself for being mad. I remember crying. I remember feeling so very disappointed – more disappointed than I had ever felt. I remember being so, so sad.

When my dad started feeling better, he told me how sorry he was.

I told him I understood.

I did, but I didn’t…

And then one day, my dad did something that was totally out of character for him. He asked me out on a "date" – to make up for missing the dinner.

WOW!!

So, I got dressed in my new outfit, and wore my new gloves. And we went out to lunch, a fancy lunch, in a beautiful restaurant downstairs at a department store in Pasadena.

You can probably imagine how a ten-year-old girl felt!

China dishes, and actual silver silverware. Crystal drinking glasses, linen napkins.

And here’s the best part – there was a fashion show, too!

I can still remember the models coming up to our table, and talking about their outfits – to ME!! Like I was all grown-up, and could actually purchase something! I can remember people coming up to my dad and I – complimenting me on my very nice behavior.

Do you know what?

It was a perfect day.

And I was actually glad that my dad had gotten sick – just so I could have this time with him instead. Just so I could go to this very special lunch instead. Just so I could feel this kind of happiness instead – the "joy after a really big disappointment" kind of happiness.

This was so much better than what I had wanted in the first place.

Ever find yourself really wanting something – really praying long and hard about it? Waiting eagerly for a dream to be fulfilled, or a long-awaited prayer to be answered?

Ever felt like you were all dressed up, and ready to go – just to be disappointed?

God knows.

And it makes Him sad when we’re sad.

It hurts Him when we’re hurting.

But love doesn’t leave us there – stranded in disappointment. His perfect Love is deeper than that.

And because He loves us so much – He doesn’t always give us everything we want.

Because sometimes perfect Love has something even better in mind!!

Can you wait for His timing, His way?

Can you trust that it’s something even better than what you wanted in the first place?

Can you believe that no matter what does or doesn’t happen in this life – there is an eternal banquet awaiting you?

Complete with the finest finery you have ever seen…

And you’ll be wearing your best outfit – the new clothes of perfect righteousness.

The honor of your presence is requested!

R esting in the

S alvation and

V ictory

P romised

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"