I just recently had a lovely visit with my 92 year old great aunt. I haven't seen her since I was a child because she lives in another state. My visit this time was far too short. She is a sweet, godly woman who has devoted her life to serving and following hard after God. I think she has a heart like King David's. I could have sat all day listening to her stories! There's one in particular that just touched me.
When I was little and my great aunt was a much younger woman, she lived in the Appalachian mountains serving the very isolated people that lived there. She was working with a group of young people and was hoping to take them on a little field trip up the mountain, so she took a drive up the steep mountain roads scouting out the place ahead of time. When she arrived at what she thought was the right place she began to explore... and ended up turned around and lost. There were several roads that led back down the mountain, but they were all rough and steep and she knew many of them were barricaded at the end and she could end up stuck with no way to turn her vehicle around again. She had to find the right road. So she drove slowly in a circle around the top of the mountain.
She recognized none of the roads.
She drove slowly around again.
Still nothing.
She began to drive around again...
and heard the Lord's quiet whisper to turn and drive around in the opposite direction. Not understanding, but stepping out in obedient faith anyway, she turned around and started to circle back the way she came. And there was the road she was looking for. She had passed it several times, but the change of perspective... coming at it from a different direction... made all the difference. Remarkably, at the top of this particular road there was a small arrow pointing down that said simply "The Road". She was so impressed by this moment that she went back the next day and took a picture of the sign. She has this picture somewhere still and keeps it as a reminder.
My great aunt lives in a nursing home now and gets quite lonely. The other day she told me she was in her little room feeling discouraged when the Lord brought this story to her memory and reminded her of His faithful leading. What a precious memory to have!
Today, I was the one feeling discouraged. Nothing too terrible happened. Really, looking back on my day I have countless reasons to feel grateful and encouraged. But I'm ending my day worn out and my exhaustion can be so distracting from my blessings. I was about to have a good old pity party... complete with ice cream straight from the carton. And then the Lord brought my dear great aunt and The Road to mind. I hear His voice whispering to my exhausted heart...
"Turn around. I Am The Road. Follow me."
I take tentative steps. I'm moving slow. But I follow. And as I step out my heart lifts and I know He is faithful to lead me.
Thank you, God, for dear great aunts who still... at 92 years old!... serve you by sharing your faithfulness with the people around them. And thank you, thank you for being such a Faithful Leader to those of us in need of
The Road.
