Over the holidays, I was blessed to travel with my husband Scott to California to volunteer as a Petal Pusher (a decorator on the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Tournament of Roses Parade float and other floats in the same warehouse). I was also privileged to ride on the LHM float in the parade. It was amazing to watch the crowd stand in honor of our Savior as we passed. The float was titled “Jesus Teaches” and a local pastor, in costume, portrayed Jesus. It truly was all about Jesus!

I thought I’d begin this blog with something positive because, I admit, I was not in a positive mood on January 2 as we tried to fly home. Flights around the country were delayed or canceled. Our day was a lesson in patience, and mine was used up early in the day. Our flight from Ontario, California to Denver, Colorado was delayed. We arrived around 2:30 p.m. — sat on the tarmac for 40 minutes — no ground crews. Then we waited for luggage for an hour and a half — no ground crews. Our flight from Denver to Colorado Springs was canceled. We rented a car — along with half the people in the airport. Hours (2 ½ to be precise) later we were on our way to the Colorado Springs airport to pick up our car and drive home over the mountain pass.

Our patience had disappeared, and our moods were — not good. So on the way home we made lists of things/people for which we were thankful. The lists were long. Here are just a few:

My list: I was humbled to represent the LWML on the LHM float, thankful for all the wonderful Christians we met as we worked on the floats, thankful I have a husband with more patience than I, thankful our plane made it to Denver and we got our luggage, thankful I wasn’t traveling with small children who were tired and hungry and didn’t understand, thankful that we made it home in one day, and thankful we have a home to which we can return.

Scott’s list: He was thankful we got to fly home together (when flights were canceled they had originally booked us on separate flights), thankful we were reunited with a neighbor from over 40 years ago as we worked on decorating the floats, thankful he has a wife with more patience than he has (hahahaha!), thankful the icy roads had cleared off and we could find a rental car, and thankful for safely arriving home.

Yes, we are both thankful for Jesus! If you’re wondering if I prayed at any time for more patience, I did not. God gave me enough — I just refused to see it. I just got off a phone call with a friend that had a 60 hour experience in airports with many more delays and cancelations. So, as I write this blog I thank God for a lesson in trust, in patience, and in thankfulness. However, I may ask Him to make my next trip a little less eventful!

Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,

Debbie