It Was a Perfect Way Into Our Today

Today is one of my favorite days of the year! It’s mine and Rip’s anniversary! And here’s how we’re celebrating…true Rip and Lisa style.

Started off this morning with Rip going to the hospital to see his mother who had knee replacement surgery yesterday. He’s helping her by giving support as she walks down the hall with her assistant, and just being there to listen as she talks through it all. Then he will be on his way to do many customers lawn care – #1 customer) cutting limbs off trees, #2 customer) laying fresh mulch in all flower beds and around trees, and #3 customer) pressure washing their house. (The man is an animal!)

I had an early morning appointment with a bone and joint doctor, who ended up scheduling me for an MRI. I made it back to my office to get going in my church work. And then tonight…we will meet at the house for grilled chicken and a delicious kale salad!

Doesn’t sound too “celebratory?” Well, for us…it’s absolute perfect! You see, last night we drove to Waverly to see a log cabin that a friend is selling. As we left the cabin, we noticed a darlin’ little restaurant named, “Log Cabin Restaurant.” It was just perfect -with the long front porch, all vintage chunky wood table sets, wall hangings from the 1970’s, fried pies for sale as you walked through the door, and what I personally just adored was how all the waitresses had on aprons! Oh, I so wanted to fill out an application!

But was our waitress who came to our table and caught my attention right off. Beautiful young lady, blonde hair, brown eyes and a warm and friendly smile on her face that just said, “Welcome.” We gave her our order (two cheese burgers and fries…don’t judge me!), and she provided us with one of the BEST burgers we’ve ever had. It was just a cozy country style place to enjoy good food and each other.

But that’s NOT what made last night an “intro-anniversary celebration” for us. It was at the end of our meal, when she came to ask if we wanted desert. I can’t even remember how the conversation got started, but we soon were talking about Jesus. She stood there listening to Rip and me, and in no time tears began to well up in her eyes. She then shared with us a very hard and painful experience she was currently going through. It was glaringly obvious the hurt she was feeling. It broke both our hearts to see her cry so easily, knowing that only minutes earlier she was masking her heartache behind a gentle smile.

As she shared some of her life with us, Rip immediately said to me, “Pray, baby.” So there we were – all three of us – holding hands around our dinner table praying for her and her situation. Yes, it was one of those moments when you have no idea what to pray and you MUST depend tee-totally on the Holy Spirit to give you the thoughts and words to pray.

After our prayer, she bent down threw her arms all around my neck and hugged me so sweetly saying, “Thank you for praying.” She repeated that 2 more times again as she hugged Rip, too. We gave her one of our Interior Inspirations cards, with all our contact info on it, and let her know she can call or text any time.

As she walked away, well, if you know Rip and I at all you can only imagine what this two squallers did! We squalled! We took one look at each other and we both had a good ole’, “We love you, God,” cry. The tears we cried were tears, not only for her and her situation, but for how absolutely in awe of God we both were for the good work He just did. He left us both speechless.

We thought we were going to Waverly to see a cabin, but were were sent to Waverly to hear a heart. 

God knew exactly what He was doing last night. He took us to Waverly because there was this young lady…a young lady that He loves very much. And out of His love for her, He wanted us to “fetch” His will for her life through prayer.  God, in all His orchestration, planned a 58 mile drive (one way) for Rip and I into Waverly to pray His kingdom come into her situation.

That moment for Rip and I…for Us, is what defines Us. We are not defined by what we wear, the things we do, the personalities we have, our past sins, our past mistakes, our present hang-ups and weaknesses.  We aren’t defined by the thoughts and opinions of others, nor are we defined by their flattery or praise.  No, we are defined by who God says we are. And He says:

“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 5:10

As Rip and I sat right there in those wooden chunky chairs, I looked at my Rip, wiped away my tears, smiled and said, “We thought were were coming to see a cabin, but God sent us for this…for this. Happy Anniversary, baby. I love you.”

It was a perfect way into our today.

Celebrating this day may be full of serving others with our work, but I can tell you how it’ll end —  us…together…in a recliner…falling asleep in each others arms.

Do we have a song? We sure do…it’s Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”.

Update on my arm: MRI is scheduled and should know more by next Friday. Thank you so much to all of you who have let me know you are praying. Means the world!