Thankful for God’s Timing by Elizabeth Maddrey
I’m Thankful for God’s Timing
For the last six years, November has been a month of true thanksgiving in my family. Sure, we always did the Thanksgiving thing – up to and including some activities that made me cringe as a teenager with my mom trying to encourage us to share the things we were thankful for. But six years ago, at the beginning of November, I finally got to the place where I was willing to surrender myself completely to His will.
See, my husband and I had been trying, unsuccessfully, to have a child for 12 years. And we’d moved from medical treatment to pursuing adoption…but I was bitter. I had definite plans for how this should have gone, and God wasn’t following them – hadn’t been for some time. Finally, six years ago, I broke. I got to the place where I was able to say, “not my will, but Yours.” And for that, I’m incredibly thankful. It’s made such a difference in my relationship with God – and with my other relationships as well.
A week later – the Sunday before Thanksgiving day – we got a call from our adoption agency. Our son was on his way.
I firmly believe that God was waiting for my heart to be in the right place. And, looking back, I’m thankful for His timing. Because I know our sons are ours because He put them in our family. Purposefully. And He waited until I was at a place that I would recognize His bountiful provision, rather than seeing them as the natural progress of my actions or, worse, something I was somehow owed.
Every November I remember that month, six years ago now, when God changed my heart and then changed my family. And I’m thankful beyond words.
Elizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of math and organization steered her into computer science for college and graduate school, she has always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace.
Elizabeth lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. with her husband and their two incredibly active little boys. She invites you to interact with her at her website www.ElizabethMaddrey.com or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey
