Rendezvous Surprises

When my sister Debra retired from teaching in May, we wanted to plan a trip for just the two of us simply because we could. I brought up the Just Reads Rendezvous. Debra is a reader, too, and I’ve long wanted to introduce her in person to some of the wonderful authors whose books she has read. So we signed up, both of us attending as readers. When we discovered we could add on the Christy Awards dinner, too, we were beyond excited. 

All the things I thought would be wonderful about the weekend were: 

• Time with my sister
• Reconnecting with author and reader friends
• Introducing my sister to authors she loves to read
• Meeting new-to-me authors as well as fellow readers

But as happened a couple of weeks ago at the writing retreat I attended, the Lord had some surprises in store, gifts I never would have even imagined to ask for!

• Becky Wade’s keynote address on the book of Ruth essentially clarified what the Lord has been speaking to my heart lately concerning what I need to focus on in the coming year. I am so, so grateful for His words to me through Becky. 

• Several people I met knew me from this blog! Let me tell you, that blew. Me. Away. Seriously, y’all. I was so humbled to know that y’all read not just everyone else’s posts but mine, too! Putting me in a place where I got to know that was such a gift from the Lord. 

• I was able to encourage a long-time friend because I had experienced something similar and could understand. I’m always amazed when God redeems hard things in that way. And I love it when the hand of the Lord orchestrates such ministry between us as sisters in Christ. 

• Finally, a precious young woman found me near the end of the day, pulled out a copy of my Bethany House version of Wings of a Dream, and asked me to sign it. She’d brought it from home on purpose when she’d seen my name as an attendee (not even an author!). She wanted me to know that my book sparked her love of reading. 😭

James 1:17 tells us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

Gift after gift after gift the Lord lavished on me this weekend, a weekend I expected nothing more than to make memories with my sister and do a little fan-girling over my favorite authors, which would have been more than enough. And yet God often delights in “doing far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” as Ephesians 3:20 tells us. And when His goodness overwhelms me in such a way as it did this weekend, I can only fall to my knees in worship. 

Has God given you any surprise gifts recently?