Have you faced circumstances wondering where they came from and how to handle them? Often, we must act in faith and wait for God’s timing for good fruit to come forth. Each person reading my story can testify to times when circumstances changed your storyline also. How blessed we are to be His children and know He will take care of us through all seasons as He does the sparrows singing in the tress outside your window this beautiful Friday morning.

Mother and I spent a wonderful day together visiting family and recounting our love for one another in August of 2001. The day after our trip, complete with homemade picnic lunch – made in mother’s lap as I drove her car down Interstate 40 and getting home way past our bedtime, I was consumed with catching up with piles of back to school work and testing my students. The assistant principal came to the media center and insisted I leave my students and go to the guidance counselor’s office. That uneasy stirring that something is not right intensified when I entered the room where my husband, son, brother and a host of friends were gathered.

Silence and sadness loomed like a heavy fog as a patrolman stepped forward and shared news no child wants to hear, “I’m so sorry Mrs. Spell. Your mother was killed in an accident this morning at 9:20 a.m.”

Tim held me close as reality rushed through my heart like a dagger. He sheltered me with love and assurance that God would help us in this hard time. Mother’s car was hit by a transfer truck as she pulled onto Hwy 210 headed to Clinton. She had dinner for my family in the foot of her car and gift bags filled with candy and honey buns for Cameron and Clint. Her car was completely crushed by the crash. Mother’s words still ring in my heart as I write this story 16 years later, “Baby, I believe those big ole’ trucks are gonna’ run right over us.” Twelve hours later, one did! Mother’s words foreshadowed her death. So many signposts surfaced as I replayed the day before mother went to heaven in my mind. God was giving me forewarning and a gift by allowing me to spend mother’s last day on earth with her.

Had I known we were sharing our last hours together, I would have complained less about my aching legs while driving home, the load of work waiting for me at school, and things that implied, “I’m sacrificing a lot for you today, mother.” The devil’s plans to spoil our day did not pan out. Mother’s family was given the gift of spending time with her before God called her Home. Realizing interruptions and circumstances can be messages from God with bountiful blessings is wise. Rejecting them and refusing to change plans can block blessings and steal joy. How thankful I am for time spent with the Lord and loved ones, for embracing changed plans that continue to give peace, and for seeing how God brings good from the bad in His perfect timing.

Circumstances come to each of us, compliments of Christ who loves and looks after all His children. Yet, we must believe, receive His love, trust, obey, and listen as He leads. God led James Vann to Tim’s Gift through signposts (friends)! In His perfect timing, James and I became man and wife, a blessing we could have missed by rejecting new beginnings.

Sarah, James’ first wife, passed away in 2009; Tina and Glenn’s son, Owen, was born in 2009. Believing beyond burdens brings blessings. Having a close extended and blended family grounded in Christian love brings blessings beyond measure in this season of my life. Divine circumstances can heal hurting hearts with happenings only Christ could cause. If we help Him out by trusting and believing, the effects can make life happier here and head us to the straight and narrow road to Heaven.

Tim’s mother and I are closely connected as mom and daughter through circumstances God worked for good in our lives, but it took time. I didn’t think she liked me at all until I listened to His stirrings and realized I was wrong. Dreadful mother-in-law (any in law) stories should be banned from hearts’ shelves where hurts can hinder loving relationships. If you have offense or ought against a family member, whether in laws or immediate, go to them in love, make it right, and see what God can do!

Mom and I love one another deeply and devotedly. Our mother – daughter relationship is a gift I cherish more with each passing year. She became a widow at 53, so did I. She loved Mr. Odell with all her heart as I loved their son with all my heart. I loved James; she loved James. She and I encourage and pray for one another as we age to perfection like hoop cheese I cut for customers at our country store seasons long ago. Mom and I agree that time with our heavenly Father and family should be cherished and enjoyed. Seeing people take loved ones for granted makes us sad.

When James Vann asked me to go to dinner with him, I first said no, prayed and waited, then drove to Tim’s mother’s house and sat with her at the kitchen table (where the family always gathered to eat and discuss things)! I told her I would always love Tim and respected and loved her like my mother. I shared that I had met a fine gentleman I would like to get to know better but would not go out with him without her blessing. Through tearful eyes, she held my hand and lovingly shared words of support. For two years, our families watched God bring good from bad circumstances and work miracles in our families. God brought James into my life, our lives, for a short time with everlasting blessings. James and Mom bonded quickly after she realized what a good man he was and that he loved her too. She would light up when we came for a visit. He would sit by her side and listen as she shared stories and softly wiped tears that told us God was up to something good.

When James passed away, Mom was sick and could not attend his funeral. Weeks later, she asked a family member to take her to Baptist Chapel cemetery. She walked to his grave, stood alone in the frigid weather, and shared her respect for a man God brought into her life that she loved like her own son. How can we stay sad, bitter, angry, or complacent, when bad things change the storyline of our love stories? With God, all things truly are possible, even bringing miracles from messes, blessings from burdens, and happiness from heartaches. God has pulled me from pits of pity many times and positioned me for plans I never imagined possible in my lifetime. How about you? Are you stuck in situations that are stealing your joy and stopping your blessings? Maybe it is time for you to release the past and trust God to guide you to His plans for the rest of your life.

A message from Romans 8: 28-29 comes to mind. “At the very least, we know God is guiding us toward at least one goal in every circumstance, good or bad: conformity to Jesus Christ.”

When things happen that change our plans, we should say, “Thank you, Lord. I trust that this change is from You.”

When it seems impossible to love one another, especially enemies as specified in God’s greatest commandment, we can count on God to work things out for good in His perfect timing. Yet, we must do our part by trusting, obeying, forgiving and stepping forth in faith to new beginnings.

Being stubborn or set in our ways on which direction we should go in life can keep us from many beautiful blessings awaiting us in unexpected places.

Paul was intent on going in one direction on a missionary journey but was stopped. Luke wrote that circumstances from the Holy Spirit’s intervention stopped them from going to Mysia so they could go to Macedonia. (Acts 16: 8-10)

In Psalm 139 we read that God has ordained our days. So, we should never let anger linger, refuse to forgive, or grow weary and distant in our relationship with loved ones and the Lord. Each day is a gift to be opened and enjoyed while knowing in our hearts we are ready to meet Jesus at any given moment. Recognizing circumstances as signposts from God as a new direction, new correction, new start, or lesson in patience and submission is wise for all His children.

While the Holy Spirit loves to send circumstances that bring joy to our journey and new beginnings to our love stories, let us look for them with willing hearts, fervent prayers, strong faith and see what God can do!

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By Becky Spell Vann

Contributing columnist

Becky Spell Vann is the owner and operator of Tim’s Gift and The Learning Station.