Lessons
So, our vacation has not turned out the way we anticipated or hoped. It’s still wonderful in its own way. I am so grateful that my faith has grown over these past years. I recognize it’s not my own power that has grown my faith, it is grace, simply put. Thank God for His grace.
It was only a couple days into the trip that we began to see little ways that the vacation was not going to be what we had invisioned. Just little things - Dakota was not able to come home so he would not be joining us and able to help Mandie with Sawyer. We would be called upon to help, and of course we would do so, but we hadn’t expected to need to.
Even before we arrived at the condo, we got the news that something wasn’t right - there were pipes to be dealt with on the “private” beach we always enjoy (they actually bring sand in by barge from Tampa to enlarge the beach TO ATTRACT TOURISTS). We would have to haul our beach paraphernalia down the path a bit to get a spot for our group. It was not a terrible distance, but it wasn’t just walking down our path and plopping down like we’ve done the last ten years. That would make the beach more crowded because people in the other condos surrounding us also had to move down the path to find a spot. And... they have added a “public” access point to the “private” beach just steps beyond the spot where we all landed when we made our way down the path. Crowds - they are not my thing, ever. What exactly is it that we’re paying for when we rent the condo? It’s not just a place to stay, we could rent a hotel or condo anywhere we wanted. It’s the beach folks, of course, it’s the beach.
Prices have increased, the level of greed from the locals just seems tangible like it never has before. I can’t really put my finger on it, but there is definitely something different in the attitudes...
But the lesson for me that I was able to sense pretty early on? We were counting on this vacation to supply our rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. We have been “white-knuckling” life the last few months, and we expected this time away to be our healing balm. You can probably see where I’m going with this if you know me at all... we know better than to count on something like this for our peace and serenity. It certainly may be used as a tool or avenue to achieve it, but the source is our God, nothing else. Nothing else. I think maybe we lost focus on that. So if God needs to use some annoying challenges to bring our focus back to where it belongs, I will only be grateful that He loves and cares for us enough to do so. We could have just kept rolling with a bad attitude and self-pity, but He would not have it. Such a good Father.
Lesson learned. More to come? Probably :-) Father, keep my eyes, ears, mind, and heart open to receive whatever it is you would have me learn. Amen.
Off to the (growing smaller each day) beach 🏖
Peace & Serenity!
Susan
It was only a couple days into the trip that we began to see little ways that the vacation was not going to be what we had invisioned. Just little things - Dakota was not able to come home so he would not be joining us and able to help Mandie with Sawyer. We would be called upon to help, and of course we would do so, but we hadn’t expected to need to.
Even before we arrived at the condo, we got the news that something wasn’t right - there were pipes to be dealt with on the “private” beach we always enjoy (they actually bring sand in by barge from Tampa to enlarge the beach TO ATTRACT TOURISTS). We would have to haul our beach paraphernalia down the path a bit to get a spot for our group. It was not a terrible distance, but it wasn’t just walking down our path and plopping down like we’ve done the last ten years. That would make the beach more crowded because people in the other condos surrounding us also had to move down the path to find a spot. And... they have added a “public” access point to the “private” beach just steps beyond the spot where we all landed when we made our way down the path. Crowds - they are not my thing, ever. What exactly is it that we’re paying for when we rent the condo? It’s not just a place to stay, we could rent a hotel or condo anywhere we wanted. It’s the beach folks, of course, it’s the beach.
Prices have increased, the level of greed from the locals just seems tangible like it never has before. I can’t really put my finger on it, but there is definitely something different in the attitudes...
But the lesson for me that I was able to sense pretty early on? We were counting on this vacation to supply our rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. We have been “white-knuckling” life the last few months, and we expected this time away to be our healing balm. You can probably see where I’m going with this if you know me at all... we know better than to count on something like this for our peace and serenity. It certainly may be used as a tool or avenue to achieve it, but the source is our God, nothing else. Nothing else. I think maybe we lost focus on that. So if God needs to use some annoying challenges to bring our focus back to where it belongs, I will only be grateful that He loves and cares for us enough to do so. We could have just kept rolling with a bad attitude and self-pity, but He would not have it. Such a good Father.
Lesson learned. More to come? Probably :-) Father, keep my eyes, ears, mind, and heart open to receive whatever it is you would have me learn. Amen.
Off to the (growing smaller each day) beach 🏖
Peace & Serenity!
Susan
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