Lessons Learned From One Table Over

Reflection at the end of a day is a good thing.  Sometimes we can look back see how our steps were ordered for good. And on those same days we can look back and see that even though we weren't praying for patience, God saw fit for us to put in some practice in that certain area.

I'm pretty sure the Bible says, "In all things, give thanks."  We were trying very hard.

The morning started off with this:

Thank You, Jesus.

Followed by this, with the former image in hand:

And the angels were singing.

All was well and right with the world.  Birds were singing, children were playing and I could almost feel myself starting to relax.  Quietly overlooking a lake, we ate lunch in divine splendor.  

As we exited and began to drive down a VERY BUSY highway, we heard what is never a good sound. After pulling over, we saw this:

Long story short, we found a place to get a new tire. They said it would take three hours!! So we sat. The football game was on. And we sat some more. On the upside, it only took half the time they originally told us.  

This is where the real story began. As much as I loved the morning, God had something much more in store for this soul that for most of the time is oblivious to what is going on around her.  

We stopped on the way home to eat at a place that is so much more than a restaurant.  You can shop there, too :) .  I noticed that the place was relatively empty when we sat down.  Maybe that's why the table to the left of me stood out.  There was an older couple sitting there just getting their food as we sat down.  The wife caught my attention first. She was dressed in white pants and a sparkly, purple sequined shirt. Her white hair was perfectly in place with just the right amount of curl. Her shoes were the prettiest pair of black sandals I've seen in a long time.  Sitting there in her wheelchair pulled up to the table, she was a picture of elegance and fine manners.  Her husband, ever the gentleman, was dressed just as well in his T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots.  He had a Stetson in the chair next to him.  I immediately fell in love with both of them.  

They each made sure that the other one had everything they needed.  They ate their meal, sometimes conversing, but mostly in companionable silence. You could tell that they have mastered the art of being with each without the need of words. Their silence wasn't forced. It was an easygoing comfort that comes with a love and respect for one another.  If one said something, the other was immediately attentive.  I imagine after spending so much time together it is a "hand and glove" reaction.  They each know what to do to the help the other.  

When they finished their meal, the waitress brought the check.  The wife held it up while they both examined it.  After agreeing it was correct, the husband helped his bride gather her belongings. He patted her on the back as he began to push her out and they left not knowing the lasting impression they made. 

I saw love in action.  It was quiet. It was peaceful. It hinted of minutes and hours spent together that made a difference.  It was comfort and it was unselfish. 

 The companionship of God is like that.  He is everything.  He is our Peace. He gives comfort when no one else can.  He longs for us to want to spend time with Him and when we do there is joy in the obedience.  He has given us all that we need in Jesus.  He has given us His Word to speak to us  and we can see in black and white what His instructions are.  Why do we so often long for the noise and chaos of the world when the companionship of God is what we need to crave? 

May we be satisfied with the quietness of God, because in that quietness, He speaks volumes.  

I was reminded of this today...from one table over.