I was turning that age when people celebrate with something big – a party, a trip, or a Corvette. I had planned to have a big party on my own. Check. I’d wait for someone to “gift” me the Corvette! Check. So when Tonja suggested we do a trip together since both of our “big” birthdays are the same week, I agreed to that too. I had never had a birthday trip so what the heck! Like I said, this was the big one!
With Covid knocking down the first attempt at the birthday trip, we would be resilient and try again. Well, Tonja would be resilient! Now two years later from our first plans, I found myself in the St Philipsburg airport standing around some people who I didn’t know. As we huddled around suitcases, the introduction chain began, “This is Uncle Rick and Aunt Cynt. This is Bridgette. You know Garrett. This is Patrick’s cousin Armeer and his wife Tara (that’s me!). This is Armeer and Patrick’s cousin Trina and this is her friend Tonia. And that’s Kim over there waiting for her bags.” Well, this was different. Somehow, our birthday trip had become a family trip! And this wasn’t even my family! I didn’t know these people! And I didn’t know why I would be spending my birthday week with people who I really didn’t know.
Over the next few days, we had some meals, sat around the pool once or twice, took an ALL DAY island tour, and listened to music TOGETHER. We talked never knowing where any conversation would begin or end…never knowing the journey of the words or their impact. And even a few of us were sitting at the pool when Tonia received the text finding out that her grandfather passed away. We all felt the sadness ourselves. So somehow, I think we all got to know each other a little. Now, these people were no longer strangers to me. In these few days, they had become family…community.
The morning of my birthday, I stole off by myself, grabbed a cup of coffee, sat on the shore, and watched the waves. I praised God for everything. I cried. And as always, I waited to see Jesus walking toward me on the water! LOL! As I sat there, I realized that my life was completely different than it had been two years earlier when we first talked about doing this trip. I no longer had a permanent job. I was a home school administrator. I spent my days in sweats and T-shirts instead of suits. My office was my back porch. I had a dog. My entire family was home all day. Some people who I talked to every couple of days were no longer alive. So many things were different. And now my birthday was different.
Sometimes our blessings, refreshings, opportunities, and significant experiences may be in a different place or even with different people. I am not suggesting that you seek different as much as I am suggesting that you embrace different when it shows up. In the book of Ruth, Naomi found herself in a foreign land faced with the tragedy of the death of both her husband and her two sons. Planning to return to her home, she sent her daughters-in-law back to their own families. Ruth, one of Naomi’s daughters-in-law, decided that she would leave her home country and follow Naomi. In the famous passage, Ruth makes the declaration that Noami’s people would be her people and Naomi’s God would be her God. (Ruth 1:16) That’s definitely embracing different! I imagine that as Ruth gleaned from the fields she thought how her life was completely different than it was a year earlier. (Ruth 2) She was now a Moabite woman living in Bethlehem… a different place among different people serving a different God. Of course, Ruth embracing different and not complaining about the process, led to her marrying Boaz and being in the lineage of Jesus!
Me embracing different led to a birthday in a beautiful place that I wouldn’t have chosen for myself, with beautiful people who I wouldn’t have chosen for myself. I LAUGHED, I listened, I learned, I dreamed, and I laughed some more. And despite quite a few trip challenges, the time spent was worth it and I’m thankful for the entire experience.
Are there areas in your life where you feel like God is leading you somewhere or to something different? It could be something as significant as a different job or school. Or it could be a shift to a different perspective or a different way of approaching a challenge. Or like Ruth, maybe the Lord is leading you to a different place and a different community. EMBRACE DIFFERENT. It may not be without challenge, but the end result will be worth it.
…For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Ruth 1:16
Thanks for SHARING Tara! LOVE THIS! Truly a timely reminder! EMBRACE DIFFERENT!
Thanks Ms. Addie. I’m glad this is a timely message for both of us!
This is such so beautiful and soul stirring. It touched my heart! I felt like I was there. You know you can really write or tell a story when your audience “feel it!” Thank you for sharing, I needed to hear this with all the changes I face. I embrace the changes!
Ida, thanks for your encouraging words. Praying that the Lord will surprise you in your changes!
I love everything that you expressed. I also loved how vulnerable you were. The spiritual comparison was the icing on the cake. The thing about love is all you have to do is allow God to use you and everything God plans for us to experience we will experience it with strangers, family, or even enemies! Thanks for sharing Cuzzo!
Thanks Trina. I agree that when we let God lead us we end up in all the right places with the right experiences! And thanks for being a part of my birthday experience!
This message couldn’t have come at a better time!! Thank you
Hey Aniecia! Good to hear from you! Glad it’s helpful.
Great life story. Reminded me when I went to live in Turkey. I was sure that God had forgotten that part of the world. Everything was about 100 years behind. But God wanted my attention and He got it. After two years I realized what was happening to me and enjoyed the transition from follower to leader. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing Pops! It is amazing how God will lead us to a different place to get our attention.
I felt that story also, especially when you was alone and had time to reflect, being retired now. I am finding more time to reflect on life and living. Thanks
Alnetia, thanks for sharing and congratulations on your retirement! Retirement is difficult for some people so glad you’re taking the opportunity to reflect and live.
Thanks Tara for sharing. I am moving somewhere different and God has showed me glimpses of the people I don’t know. I pray I will be able to share my new experiences with others. Trusting Jesus as I continue this new journey. This sure encouraged me. Thank you ❤️
Wow Sherlton! Sounds like a different place and different people! Praying that you will transition well and enjoy the journey.
Your messages are always right on time!! I was excited to see a message from your blog and couldn’t wait for the journey your words would take me on! I’m open to embracing different just as you and Ruth were!!! What a difference embracing different made in your life and in the life of Ruth! Great message!
Thanks Tanya! I’m glad this story was on time! I agree that when we embrace different instead of resisting it, the journey is a lot easier or at least we’re a lot happier.
Such an encouragement and so beautifully articulated!!
Thanks Anitra. Glad this was encouraging. And your words to me are also encouragement! I appreciate it!
Thanks Tara, always mind changing how God shows you a ways to help us to understand something not new , but surely with a deeper understanding. May God continue to use you
Thanks Evainia. I appreciate your encouragement.