On Being Enough

When I think of the needs that will be before me as our family moves to Thailand . . .

the college girls who will be away from home and needing a motherly mentor

the young girls who will need lots of hugs and smiles and English lessons

my own children's hearts and minds as they learn and live in another culture

the seeking women I'll meet--diplomats, tourists,buddhists, neighbors

I get overwhelmed.  Feelings of doubt and inadequacy creep in, and I begin to hear messages that "I will not be enough."

And as I was sitting in the quiet of the early morning today, I was reminded that this message is absolutely and irrevocably true.  I am not enough to all the needs that will be before me in the journey ahead.  But then in the same breath, I was reminded of an image a former mentor (Janet S.) told me once during my over-achieving, not-quite-in-the-cool-crowd high school days.   

She said, "Laura, God will give you the ticket for the ride when it's your turn to get on it and not necessarily before.  While you're waiting in line or across the fairgrounds at another booth, you won't have the ticket, but when the time comes, God will give you what it takes."
 
In other words, I can trust that when the gate to this ride of our Thailand adventure swings open, my God is big enough to "supply all my needs." (Bible, Phillippians, Chapter 4)  I can relax in the knowledge that I'll have the ticket when I need it, and not necessarily before.

And I hear a whisper, "Deep breath, beloved.  Don't worry about the roller coaster.  Just enjoy the popcorn stand for now, and trust Me to be enough for tommorrow."

Sweet.

Or really,
Salty. 

Thanks for being interested and for reading.