A Weekend Of Sprinkling

Sometimes two seemingly unrelated things can be quite similar.
Two events, that can easily stand alone, have significance when looked at together.
I noticed the truth of this with two family events that happened this past weekend.
God’s hand was evident in both.

The first event was the bridal shower for my son’s fiancé.
The bridal shower was in Washington, DC.
Two of my daughters and my daughter-in-love were able to attend.
My daughter, who just had our precious granddaughter, did not attend.

My oldest daughter drove all of us to the shower.
Since she had plans in the Baltimore area later that evening, we needed another way home.
My husband suggested that we take the train.
We were thrilled that was could just sit back and relax on our return trip.

We arrived at a lovely brownstone close to the Capitol.
The shower was given by a sweet, young woman who goes to church with my son and his fiancé.
It was so gracious of her to host all of us.
Everything was so lovely.

Since it was an afternoon tea, this sweet, young woman served food accordingly.
She ordered many sets of cups and saucers in lovely china online.
The cups and saucers were set out for us on her kitchen island.
She said later that she was curious as to which set each of us would choose.

She could get a glimpse into our personality by our choice.
She served us so graciously.
I noticed framed maps hanging in various places on her walls.
She explained their significance.

Her husband is in the Air Force.
They have lived many places over the years.
Each map was a place where they had lived.
The maps actually told their story.

As I got to know our hostess, I thanked her for her hospitality.
She explained how someone had taken her under their wing when she was getting married.
It just seemed natural that she would do the same for someone else.
My son’s sweet fiancé was the recipient of that grace.

It is because of the Lord that you are doing this, I mentioned to her.
If you did not know the Lord, you might have expected someone to do that for you.
She nodded in agreement.
Because of the Lord, the grace you received, you extended to someone else, I added.

I saw the Gospel lived out in her hospitality.
I saw grace received and grace extended.
I saw one-anothering.
I saw selflessness.

My future daughter-in-love was the recipient of her grace.
We all were recipients by extension.
Even in a simple invitation, the Lord is there.
Even in opening up your home, the Lord is in your hospitality.

Before we ate, the mother of the bride-to-be prayed.
Her prayer was from her heart.
She asked the Lord to bless the upcoming marriage of her daughter and my son.
She thanked Him for all the women that supported her daughter in prayer.

The grandmother of the bride-to-be asked to say a few words.
She had a gift bag for the bride-to-be, the mother of the bride, and the mother of the groom.
We were to open our gifts and read the card that was enclosed.
My heart was so touched.

Inside the gift bag, carefully wrapped, was a cup and saucer.
It was a piece of Shelley fine bone china from England.
It was in the vintage Bridal Rose pattern.
Each of us were encouraged to have tea in our cup and saucer and pray for the bride-to-be.

In that simple gesture, the Lord’s rightful place was recognized.
We were in this home to celebrate a bride.
We were there to celebrate marriage as a God given gift.
We were there to pray for this young woman.

We arrived home safely by train and went to bed to get ready for the next day.
That day my sweet granddaughter was being dedicated to the Lord at church.
We were invited to the dedication service.
It was even more special because the dedication service was on Father’s Day.

Seven babies were being dedicated that morning.
I noticed that each baby was being held by their father.
Each set of parents was given charges that they promised to uphold.
We, in the congregation, also promised that we would come alongside these parents.

We would pray for them.
We would encourage them.
We would support them.
We would love them as they train their child to know and love the Lord.

The night before the dedication service we lost power in our home.
An accident knocked down a utility pole.
The lunch that I was going to have in our home after the dedication had to be moved.
All the food had to be brought to my daughter’s home.

Twelve hours after the power went off, it came back on.
I was grateful.
However, when I sat down later with a cup of tea, I pondered the wonderful weekend.
Power may have been lost in my home but it was never lost during either of these two events.

In fact, the power that sustained each event was spiritual.
The power that sustained us and covered each day so sweetly was the power of prayer.
The Lord was over all, and in all, and through all that we did.
Because of the Lord, there was grace, and peace, and strength.

Grace received; grace extended.
A cup and saucer to remind us to pray.
A loss of power on one hand yet a boost of power on the other.
We were covered as we rested in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.

His grace was in the hospitality of our hostess.
His tenderness was in the gift of the fragile china tea cup and saucer.
His power was in the prayer that covered us.
His Lordship was recognized in the dedication service.

A bridal shower and a dedication service may not seem too similar.
Yet, they are similar because of Him.
No matter what we do, we do it under the Lordship of Christ.
No matter what we do, we do it for Him.

My heart is full.
A daughter-in-love, to-be, and a granddaughter dedicated to the Lord all in the same weekend.
God’s grace astounds me.
God’s grace is undeserved.

God sprinkles His grace over us.
God uses other people and circumstances to shower that grace on us.
Don’t miss it.
Take notice of the many sprinkles of grace throughout your day.

Like our sweet bridal shower hostess, sprinkle others with grace.
Grace is not to be hoarded.
Grace is to be extended; it is to be given away.
It was a weekend of sprinkling.

I am grateful.

…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (1 Peter 1:2)

2 responses to “A Weekend Of Sprinkling”

1. What a wonderful weekend! You are so blessed to have a totally Christian family, even the daughters and son-in-love.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     God has been very gracious.
     I do not take any of His blessings for granted.
     All the Glory goes to Him.
     Gina

     Reply