An Easter morning message

This morning, before heading to church, we picked up our Sunday morning donuts and dropped them off by the fire station since Mr. Jeremy was on shift.  We wanted to thank them for all that they do, especially for working on Easter Sunday.   Henry asked lots of questions, climbed in and out of the fire trucks; I think we were there about 20 minutes.  As Henry was climbing in the car to leave, a man walked up with a gas can, asking if any of us knew where to get diesel.  Jeremy told him where he thought the closest station with diesel was, and the man replied "Ok, I gotta find diesel. I don't want to be late for church."  My gut told me that this man needed our help.  I asked Mike if we could give him a ride and I'm pretty sure he thought I'd lost my mind, giving a stranger a ride, especially with our son in the car.  Not being prejudice, but this guy wasn't a helpless old lady.  He looked like an old motorcycle guy,  shaved head and a long beard.   I told Mike, "It's Easter and he's trying to get to church."  The 4 of us piled in the car and the man introduces himself to Henry first. He said his name was Shawn and then he asked Henry what his name was.  I thought it was pretty neat of him to talk to Henry. 

We stopped at the station and he filled up his little gas can and we headed back towards his truck.   As Mike was driving, Shawn said something to the effect that he doesn't let life make him mad.  We all have bad days and problems, it's all in how you react.  I told him that we learned in our foster licensing classes last week the acronym Q-TIP: Quit taking it personally.  He then told us that he and his brother were both adopted.  I was totally fascinated, not of him necessarily, but seeing God's work right in front of our eyes.  As he got out of the car, I told him "Happy Easter, I hope your day gets better" to which he replied "Oh I'm having a great day, just ran out of gas."  I had chills run up my spine as he walked to his truck.  Mike got out to help him, make sure he was able to get the truck started. 

By the time Mike got back in the car, I was crying happy tears.  I was so overwhelmed by the message and I wholeheartedly think that God wanted me to hear what this man believed.  See, last night after Henry was in bed, Mike gone to the races, I had a pity party.  I felt hurt and sad that my life didn't go the way I wanted, nothing like what I planned.  No longer will I ever have the chance to be pregnant again or experience the excitement as we waited for a baby to be born.  In that moment, I prayed for God to calm my heart, to guide me, to rid me of my selfishness.  None of this is about me or my plans.  It's about Him and His plan.  We are so excited about the journey of fostering and adoption, but the human side of me felt like a victim of an awful disease that in my tears, I felt like it had ruined my life.  After what felt like several minutes, I literally felt my body release the tension and I fell asleep.   God calmed me so that I could rest, but He gave me such a beautiful reminder this morning, grumbling doesn't change life or make it easier.  It's all in how you react to it.