I grew up in a small town. When I married I moved to another small town where my husband and I rise our children for 25 years. There came a day when the children and I had to make a move. And, well, a house to rent opened up way out in the country…but I kinda freaked…cause I don’t trust myself too much. So I kept talking to my LORD, saying, “FATHER, I always THOUGHT I would love country living but now face to face with the opportunity, I don’t know! What if I get out there and can’t stand it! What if this isn’t such a good idea LORD and I’m stuck…out there…in the middle of nowhere…someplace I hate...or I’m afraid to be…LORD, only YOU know what is best for me…only YOU know what I would really love…and if YOU know that this would not be good for me please, please close tight all the doors. So LORD, I am asking YOU, to look down through my years and into my future and find me…and set me up LORD where YOU know I should be.”
And guess what? HE did. Now it ain’t heaven but I am so blessed and so enjoying my country home. GOD did grant me a heart desire. And I am forever grateful. I live on a beautiful little piece of land. GOD did make that portion of my life’s story beautiful in its time.
The next cool little secret heart’s desire I’ve held since a little girl is that I’ve always wanted a little homesteady type place. Yeah, a little self-sufficient farmette, where I’m learning and growing and planting and living. Since I was a little girl, that was a dream. After I moved to the country a friend approached me one day, “Kim, I have a chicken I want to get rid of. Do you want him?” Well I had always thought that raising chickens would be way cool but again I freaked! “LORD, I don’t know anything about chickens! I can barely feed my kids let alone chickens! Maybe it would be harder work than I’ve imagined! Maybe LORD, I would really hate chickens. Oh FATHER, YOU know me way better than I know me…and if YOU know that chickens would be a horrible idea LORD, close the door on that chicken…cause I don’t know LORD but YOU do! So LORD look down once again through my time and my space in this world and either set me up with chickens or keep them away as YOU see best!
And guess what? I’ve got chickens! And I love chickens! I love watching my chickens. I love the work of chickens. I love the eggs my chickens make! In my estimation chickens are pretty homesteady! Yep, GOD did it again. HE took this little girl’s secret heart’s desire and turned it into a reality in HIS time…in HIS way…HE did it… HE made beauty.
Not only that but over the past seven years I have put in about 20 raised garden beds of all different sizes! I’ve planted all kinds of veggies and fruits! I’ve got herb gardens and grape vines and strawberry beds and garlic beds! I’ve planted asparagus beds and raspberry patches and elderberry bushes! My kiddos and I built our chicken pasture and wood shed! Oh yeah, I think I got me a little homestead!!!
GOD has brought beauty out of ashes for this little girl…in many ways…HE has. HE has taken broken and ripped and torn and unfair and scary and hard and unbelievable messes…and in HIS time…and in HIS way HE has made beauty for one little girl who said, “LORD, YOU alone, know what is really best for me.”
And guess what? I’m not HIS only little girl. And HE is no respecter of persons. HE’S got lots of little girls…and HE is in the job of making little girls dreams come true…and bringing beauty out of their messes. Amen? Amen.