Joy and Red Birds – a guest post by Elizabeth Rosner

by Elizabeth P. Rosner

You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.
Psalm 16:11 –  (Tweet this)

Have you ever asked the Lord for a sign and He answered?  If so, you know the sheer delight I experienced last week when blessing my friend, Joy.   

It was Secret Santa week and I had the pleasure of being assigned to give gifts to Joy.  She’s one of two custodians on our campus who work hard to make sure our building is immaculate.  There were set spending parameters, and I went to great lengths to ensure that she would never suspect her Secret Santa was me until the big reveal.  What I didn’t count on was my sneakiness being disrupted by the Holy Spirit!

Every year, instead of resolutions, the Lord gives me a word for the year.  In 2015, my word was Joy.  At the end of last year, Brighton had a promotional tote bag that was free with purchase.  It was a canvas bag with the word “Joy” emblazoned on it with a huge red bird background.  I didn’t really need a new Brighton bag and it was Christmas so I should have been shopping for others, but I really wanted this canvas tote.  I prayed about it, as I do with every expenditure, and the Lord prompted me to make the purchase.  After I received it, the tote sat in my closet, pristine and unused.  I would admire it but when I prayed about using it, He said, “Not yet.”

In gathering Joy’s gifts for the week, the Lord reminded me of that tote and asked me to give it to her for her last gift. “Ah”, I thought, “this is why I bought that tote!  It was never for me all along.  I love getting to be part of His grand plan to bless others!”

After receiving this last gift, but before the reveal luncheon, Joy came into my office.  She said, “You’re my Secret Santa, aren’t you?”  I said, “I think we have to wait to find out.  Why do you think so?”  She said, with a glimmer in her eye, “Because I prayed about it and He told me it was you!” She went on to tell me how much that tote meant to her and what a sign it was from Him.

In 2001, her sister’s only child, Derrick, was killed in a car wreck when he was just 21 years old.  In 2012, their father was ill and dying.  At his bedside, her sister asked their dad to please hug Derrick when he got to heaven and said, “When you’re with him, will you send me a red bird?”  The next morning, as her sister was sweeping and getting the house ready for all the family who would come in for the funeral, she opened the front door to find on the porch, sitting intently and still, two beautiful red birds!

As Joy relayed this story to me, we were both crying tears of gratitude for the Lord’s faithfulness.  She thanked me again and I replied, “Joy, He had me purchase that tote over a year ago. I had no idea at the time who it was for, but am so happy God had a plan and I could be part of it!”

I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you. –Philippians 1:4

Dear Jesus, what a blessing it is to be part of Your plan to bless others!  Thank You for allowing me that joy and for including me.  Please help each one of us listen to Your still, quiet voice when You ask us to be obedient to Your calling.  Remind us that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive, especially when it’s in Your Name!  AMEN

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Elizabeth Rosner…..
Christ follower. Prayer warrior. Wife, Mom, Hugger, and Encourager.