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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

Still being Sent

January 26, 2015 by HappyGoStuckey 9 Comments

Being sent is almost always scary.

The Philippines, 1997. Barely fifteen years old, I spent three weeks sleeping under a mosquito net in an orphanage and praying God would move in me. Standing there with the others, still a child myself with sweat beading at my temples as I shifted from one birkenstock to the other. Wondering what to expect, I took a deep breath and waited. Sounds of voices only slightly different from my own rose in harmony as those beautiful caramel faces began to sing for us and I was instantly changed. 17 years later and I can still hear their voices singing in Tagalog, “Do Lord, Oh’ Do Lord” with more joy than I had ever seen. Langit. The word for Heaven. I went to share my faith with them, but I came home with a better understanding of it.

Wake Forest, NC. 2003. The moment my feet hit the brick walkway I knew I was home. Even the ice storm that kept us huddled inside and skating across the parking lot for a pizza was perfectly surreal. I came home from the visit breathless with surety and a six month plan to pack everything I owned into a U-Haul and get there by August. As I backed down the driveway at twenty-one, my parents waved their last little bird out of the nest and I headed for I-95 North. The little town with the Tea Room and the school at its’ center was home for nearly 8 years.

And then four years ago, God brought us here. Here to this house on this street full of trees. The way by which we came to be here was at times a bit winding and awkward. But we are here. We were sent and we are settled.

Settled. That word still catches me off guard after several years of unknowns. But settled is SO nice– when we can see God’s hand clearly in bringing us. And last night when we stood amongst family and friends and had the humbling honor of hearing them each pray for our family, our marriage, our ministry– and I could not stop praising Him.

For sending us again. Sending us to a town that gave us nothing but a line of question marks when we first knew our destination.

A town that used to be nothing to us– well, nothing but a Starbucks on I-20.

But no more. Bit by bit, yield by yield, God gave us a HOME. 

Our journey here several years ago began with question marks…

–but now we have only exclamation points of His faithfulness and care.

I hope I never forget what it felt like in that particular season– to be knee deep in unanswered prayers and wading through questions about tomorrow.

I pray God always reminds me of the past when I am uncertain of the future.

When God hands us the manna of today– just today– and it may look uncertain– after all that’s what manna means- “what is it?” I hope we take it willingly with both hands and know He is always sovereign. Always.

Further, I hope I never forget that settled or not, we are forever and always being sent. 

All the time, every day.

In all of our goings, we are still being sent. Between the pre-school drop-off and the grabbing a gallon of milk and the errands, errands, errands– there’s plenty to do out there. May we never get so settled that we forget why we were brought here in the first place.

Let us not stay in here and miss the thousands of opportunities that lie outside our comfy cozy zone.

Because, sometimes– just outside of comfy cozy-you-always-wanted-to-stay-here is the chance for something more.

Something faith-stretching, soul-filling, challenging, tough, tricky, and terribly wonderful.

IMG_2165

 

Crazy Good Banana Pancakes & Newlywed Life
What I Learned in January

Comments

  1. our3strandcord says

    January 26, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    This is so beautifully written… Yet again. This resonates with my heart on many levels. Well said. Timely reminders.

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      January 26, 2015 at 10:21 pm

      Thank you Court. The farther away we get from that time, the more lessons I realize I’m still learning. Funny that way.

      Reply
  2. mattblythe says

    January 26, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    Great post!

    Sent from my iPhone

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      January 26, 2015 at 10:20 pm

      <3

      Reply
  3. Paula says

    January 27, 2015 at 9:18 am

    I love how you said ‘we are forever being sent!’ That’s such a good reminder – regardless of where we are.

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      January 27, 2015 at 12:14 pm

      Thank you, Paula. I think I need to tape it up in my car, on my mirror at home so I keep remembering as I’m going!

      Reply
  4. Linda Blythe says

    January 29, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    Beautifully written!!

    Reply
    • happygostuckey says

      January 29, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      Thank you Mom. 🙂 <3

      Reply
  5. Linda Baker says

    January 29, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    What a blessing to read through this testimony of God’s faithfulness, and how you have learned so many precious truths. Love how you described Wake Forest as” the little town with the Tea Room and the school at its center”. Thankful the Lord brought you here, and that our paths crossed in Stealey Hall. I’m also grateful that you are now “settled” and feel so at home, on the other side of all the questions. I love to read anything you write…you are so gifted! Wonderful reminder too that “we are forever and always being sent”.

    Reply

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I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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