Right after this past Christmas, my family and I were sitting in our living room talking about how amazing 2020 was going to be. My son would be graduating from high school in May, then off to college for a Summer’s Engineering Program and my daughter would be finishing up her first year in college, finding a job, and turning 20. We were looking forward to 2020.
Little did we know that 2020 would be a year we would never forget. Shortly after celebrating the beginning of the new year, we started hearing about something they were calling, Coronavirus. In March, right after my son and daughter’s Spring Breaks, the fear of spreading the virus kept them from returning to school. Looking back, I began to wonder if my son would have a graduation. My heart went out to every graduating class of 2020 as the News Reports continue to paint such a dark picture of what was happening in our world. However, at no time on the journey from one report to another, did we ever lose faith. On multiple occasions this year, God has shown us his power of protection as He continued blessing my family.
One such example; When the good news arrived about the decision to hold graduation ceremonies in our outdoor stadium. Parents and graduates alike were praying for good weather, even as rain was being forecast during most of the weather forecasts. I don’t know how many prayers I lifted up to God, but I know he heard every single one of them. The night of my son’s graduation, they were predicting rain along with possible heavy thunderstorms.
It was our turn… Graduation Day was a cloudy day. However, no rain and that evening we saw a beautiful, breathtaking sunset. As soon as the ceremony was over, the announcer on the PA system said, PLEASE LEAVE IMMEDIATELY, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE NEAREST EXIT, while it started to sprinkle. Well, we weren’t in too much of a hurry because after all, it was just sprinkling and it’s going to take more than a few drops of rain to make me run for the truck. However, just as we made it to my husband’s truck and were safely inside, it was as though every drop of water in the skies began to fall on us. This was a real Texas downpour. It was all the windshield wipers could do to keep up as we drove home. It continued to rain long after we arrived home.
That night I witnessed both the power and the goodness of our God. He knew the importance of the graduation ceremonies to every parent and family member of those graduating. He held back the rain, calmed the thunder and lightning that night until we were safely in our vehicle and then protected us on our way to our homes. His timing was perfect and I thanked him numerous times from a grateful heart for His miraculous hand of protection at work in and through our lives. He had once again answered a mother’s prayer to help her make her son’s graduation a success.
This is just one example of the blessings God has given me and my family this year. And while I have no idea what the future holds for my family, there is not a doubt in my mind, GOD IS IN CONTROL. And the things that are important to me are important to Him. There is no challenge too large, neither is there any challenge too small for Him. He hears and answers our prayers and delights in our praises.