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LONG-AWAITED BIRTHDAY
by Verna Mull Isn't it strange, when you are young, the years go by so slowly? And then, when it is more than a year, time really seems to drag! For well over a year, I had dreamed of a large ball that I could bounce on a slab of lime rock beside our house. I pleaded, but to no avail! Money was scarce, and I had given up on ever owning one. When I was 10, my mother announced that she was going to have a birthday party for me. She invited 5 or 6 of my friends, and made a birthday cake for me The night before the party, my parents presented me with their gift for me. It was a beautiful, white ball, about 10 inches in diameter, with red and blue stars all around the center! I was so happy! I nearly cried, and, oh the exhilarating feeling, as I bounced that beautiful ball right where I had dreamed of bouncing it! What excitement, and the next day was my party! I had a hard time going to sleep that night. We would have such fun playing with my new, beautiful ball! I was up early the next morning and played with that ball, and time passed faster than I ever imagined. It was time for my party! The children arrived, and we immediately began to play catch, making up several other games. One game we played was to throw the ball and hit someone. They would grab the ball and run around the circle and the one who threw the ball tried to get their place in the circle before they could get back to it. The last one to that spot was "it". Many other simple games were played, all centering on my beautiful ball! Well, as children will, there began to be a lot of wild throwing of the ball, and someone threw it into the barb wire fence that was around our pasture. That was the end of the ball that I had awaited for so long! This was one of the saddest of my childhood memories. I never cared to have any more parties. Times were hard, and the ball was never replaced. Now that I think about that experience, I think how God allows little disappointments to enter our lives, and uses these as "growing times" that help to form who we are. I am so thankful for many things that happened, as I look back over my life. These things helped to prepare me for other things in my life that were far more traumatic. Growing up may be difficult at times, but when you are loved, the hurts are just stepping stones to maturity. An elderly Christian who has learned to depend upon the Lord. He is sufficient to meet our needs in any circumstance of life. I only want to honor Him Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |