“And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”
Ezekiel 34:26 (RSV)
As I think about those small graces that God sends us during times of adversity, it’s like a small shower of blessing that comes down in its appointed season. I received a few of these small showers this week.
Looking back two weeks ago, at the blessing of a totally surprise retirement party, which I enjoyed, I mentioned that I missed not seeing three surgeons who I worked with for the past twenty five years, who were out of town at the time of the party, and couldn’t attend.
I will always cherish the memory, but I remember thinking that it would have been an even more perfect celebration if those other three surgeons could have been there.
Earlier this week I offered to help a friend by taking her to a doctor appointment in the office building attached to the hospital, where I used to work. I prayed my favorite daily prayer, before leaving the house, which is to ask for God’s perfect timing in all things. When we arrived, at first we couldn’t find a parking space in any handicapped spots. As I was about to head for the main front door to drop her off, we passed a newly opened space very close to the door.
After her appointment, I was pushing her wheelchair toward the elevator, and as the door opened, there stood one of the surgeons who couldn’t make it to my retirement party. We happily greeted each other with a big hug inside the elevator.
That moment brought extra closure to all my years of work, being able to say goodbye to someone who I enjoyed working alongside all those years. It was no coincidence that he was in that elevator at that moment, at that specific time on that specific day, because I asked for God’s perfect timing. Finding a parking space close to a door for my handicapped friend was another grace of God’s perfect timing.
Showers of blessing and perfect timing doesn’t mean everything always goes our way with steadfast perfection. It means a shower of blessing comes at the right time and place and brings us a brief time of refreshing, just when it’s needed most, often after a period of sweat and toil.
Sometimes these showers came through a kind stranger on the phone, who offered extra help or an explanation, to help me work through a new task. The past few weeks have been overwhelming, filling out forms and learning new things from attorneys regarding legal guardianship. Two other relatives and I cleared out the residence where my son rented, since he is not returning there and the landlord needs to rent it out.
These are mentally and emotionally exhausting tasks, but God sent some of the kindest and most helpful people along the way, who were a shower of blessing to me. When it seems that we have been running non stop, toiling in some area, and overwhelmed with responsibility, that is precisely when we are due for a shower.
God knows the perfect time and season, so let’s keep our eyes open for a subtle shower of kindness, in which He usually uses other people. We are never forgotten, and the Lord is attentive to every detail that concerns us. A shower of blessing is headed our way, in the perfect time and season that He selects for each of us.
Lord, thank you for being with us in every new task and responsibility we have. You send us showers of blessing according to your perfect time and season. Jesus, we trust in you and believe we can do all things through you. Amen