Lesson from a Rat

This was obviously written before I knew all the challenges we were going to face with our luggage. But it has challenged me ever since. Where is my focus?

 I'm sitting in a hotel room. It's 6 AM. I am supposed to be in my own house, in my own kitchen, making breakfast. Most times I would welcome the difference and the change. But not today. Today I want to be home! 

   If I look out my tenth floor bedroom window I can almost see Ghana. If the land borders were open, we could drive home in about 7 hours. But they aren't. So we will spend at least 12 hours, flying and then driving, home. And so I am laying here frustrated. I am asking, why God? Why do we need to spend an extra 24 hours travelling when you have brought us this far? Why was the last plane full? Why after all You did for us, did You allow this?

    And that is what stops me. After all You have done. I shouldn't be saying WHY in frustration, after all You have done. For the past month I have been praying for a miracle. The size of it depends on how you look at it. And I got my miracle. God blessed our group with 13 negative Covid tests. (The youngest 4 in our group didn't need to be tested) I said I would praise Him when that happens. And here I am saying why. 

   I didn't know when this story played out last evening that it would be such a powerful lesson to me, but it is. After we finally got our rooms, highest priority on our minds was food. How thankful we were to be shown to a nice restaurant and to be served a meal. We are in Africa again, I smiled to myself as I sat down. The furnishings were obviously cheap and the entire place very dated but everything was as high class as they could make it. Goblets to drink from, cloth, ivory napkins standing at attention, cream booths and chairs. It all spoke projected opulence on a budget. So typical African! We were served our room temperature water. And with in minutes chicken and french fries appeared for the children, followed by fish, rice, green beans, and mushroom, garlic cream sauce for the adults. It was delicious! About half way through our meal the rat made his appearance. Skittering rather slowly (for a rat) from one table to the next. Suddenly the meal wasn't as delicious and the projected opulence wasn't working. A rat was somewhere on the floor, probably about to visit our table looking for crumbs! Thankfully he never showed!

   But when we look back on that meal, will we remember the cloth napkins, the goblets, or even the yummy food? Probably we will just tell stories about the rat! When I look back on this trip, will I tell about the miracles? Or just the rat? 

   Will I tell how God led us to a covid testing place where the people were kind and caring? Where they let us swab our own noses. Will I tell of the miracle of all negative tests for our entire group? Will I tell of the joy of riding the sky train and our children's joy of being able to eat at Mc Donald's or will I tell about the 11 hours we spent waiting at JFK. Will I tell about the wonder of all those miles travelled safely, or will I talk about our luggage that all got left in NY. Will I be thankful that we were even allowed to take off in the storm or will I remember the 3 hour wait on the plane for the de icing crew. Will I be thankful for a man that stuck by us and helped us all the way through the long process of being allowed to leave the airport in Togo and go to a room for the night, (paid for by the air line) or will I dwell on our frustration of being told to go here, do this, come over here quickly, don't do that, do this, wait here, get in line there, sorry, wait here after all, ok, this way, wait here, hurry this way, wait here. (You get the picture!) And most of all, will I be thankful for a hot meal, or will I complain about the rat? 

  As the sun rises in Togo, it feels like God has just told me I am back on the battle field. Not like we didn't face any trials on furlough, but Africa is where I am put to the test to live out who I say I am. We have been encouraged and blessed for the past month, now it's time to put that to work. A friend reminded me last evening, "Maybe God has a person in Togo that He wants to see your light. Let your light shine!" Such timely words since letting my light shine was the last thing on my mind. Instead I was letting my frustration shine through! 

   I am praying this morning that we arrive home safely this evening. That we can figure out the long forms needed to get back in the airport. That Ghana still honors our Covid tests. That we don't test positive at the airport. And that our luggage comes. But I am also once again praising God!

For all You have done I will thank You. 

For all that Your going to do. 

For all that You've promised and all that You are,

is all that has carried me through.

Jesus I thank You and I praise You.