A Mind-Blowing, Jaw-Dropping Miracle
Here is a mind-blowing, jaw-dropping miracle: when God’s mighty grace moves one of his suffering children to whole-heartedly rejoice when they hear about God heaping blessings on another one of his children.
A while ago, a friend called to invite me and my wife Kristi to join him, his wife and another couple for a free week in Grand Cayman Island. A former member of his church had graciously offered the use of their beach front home in the Caribbean at no cost. We just had to get ourselves there and buy our own food.
I must admit, that though I rejoiced at this incredible blessing, I felt bad for many in our church who have suffered financially and in other ways and have never even seen the ocean, let alone the Caribbean. I hoped no one would be tempted to struggle that we were going.
A few days before we left a lady from our church, Mary, stopped me in the office hallway, literally gushing with joy. “Mark, I am SO happy you and Kristi get to go to the Caymans. When I heard it I just rejoiced and praised God. I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful time.” She went on for a couple of minutes in her gladness.
What’s so incredible about this is that Mary and her husband Wade have endured literally years of hardship.
Early in their marriage they lost 2 children in the womb. Later, Wade, who was self-employed, cut off his finger on the job, losing months of work and wages. For years Wade struggled with undiagnosed diabetes, which severely limited his ability to work. But in all their years of hardship, Wade and Mary have been stellar examples of trusting and rejoicing in God’s sovereign goodness.
When Mary heard about God giving us the gift of our trip, she wasn’t jealous. She didn’t grumble and grouse about how unfair God’s been to them. No, Mary was flat-out happy for us. From the bottom-of-her-heart happy. It was almost like she and Wade were the ones going. I want to be like Mary.
Amazing grace! Tears fill my eyes as I type this. O God, you are very great. Only your grace can move a suffering saint to dance for joy when she hears that someone else has been invited to a tropical paradise.
I can’t wait to see Mary and Wade’s pile of treasure in heaven. I hope I get to polish their crowns.
photo by konaboy
Posted in Grace
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 am
That is amazing! This reminds me of the church mentioned in the NT that gave with joy out of their great need.
It really is such an amazing work of God when we see things like this. Thank you for sharing - it greatly encouraged me!
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 am
Thanks for this post Mark, challenged me to be more like Mary. What an example she is, truly a blessing and an encouragement to those who know her, and now to those who haven’t known her because of this post.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Hi Emily, I hadn’t thought about the similarity the Macedonians - good insight! Thanks for your comment.
Hi Steve, Yes, Mary (and Wade) are incredible examples. I’m so blessed they’re in our church.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Wow, what an incredible post. A lot of times we, as humans with sinful natures, get so caught up in ourselves and our problems that we don’t even get excited when someone else has had such a wonderful gift, like your trip. I, too, hope I can become more like Mary, or at least remember what is most important in my life. That one stronghold I must cling to is the Lord and he will give us many blessings if we only just take the time to pass it over to him. Thank you for this post, it really lifted the weight that’s been resting on my heart lately.
-Bee-
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Joshua 4 (parts of v. 1-7)
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan… Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you.
In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
When I look at Wade and Mary - I see the Lord’s faithfulness and remember that through all trials - God is with us. I know through all their hard times God gave them the grace they needed - when they needed it. I know that the Lord will never leave me just by seeing His faithfulness to them.
Wade and Mary are my stones…
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I love Mary and Wade! I hope I get to polish their crowns too. They are so loving and always willing to give in spiritual ways, material ways and also of their time, even when they themselves may feel lack. I often think of Mary as I struggle with my daily weaknesses and hope that God will grow me in grace so that I’ll be a lot like her in 20 years!
We have kindly been given plane tickets and lodging with family for Grand Cayman this summer as well. I hope that as we vacation, we can be amazed by our undeserved blessings. We certainly do not deserve this anymore than anyone else. And we couldn’t pay for it ourselves, either. I hadn’t really thought about it in terms of the Gospel before, but it kinda matches right up…
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hi Bee, I am thankful that the Lord would encourage you. I don’t know what weight you are carrying, but I pray the Lord will continue to lift it.
Vicki, I agree. Wade and Mary are stones, testimonies to God’s faithfulness. Good analogy with the stones in the Jordan. Thanks.
Sara, I’m so glad you guys get to go to Grand Cayman. Praise God! I wouldn’t be surprised if Wade and Mary have their own Grand Cayman in heaven…maybe in 20 years I’ll be more like Wade and Mary…