Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thursday Thanks - God's Grace

A friend gave me a book today called You Write the Ticket, Lord, written by Dorothy A. Galde. Two things struck me about it right away.

First, the dedication is "to those who hurt, with love and understanding." Love and understanding, even by a woman I don't know, and a woman who has since gone on to be with the Lord at that, is still something I appreciate very much.

And second, her preface is as follows:

Kites rise against the wind.
So do airplanes,
So do people.
Dr. V. R. Edman, President of Wheaton College
Said to me years ago,
"Dottie,
you have to write a book
to let others know of the
bouquet of difficulties
the Lord has been pleased to present you.
There are books we can give
to those who have suffered physically,
to those who have lost a loved one,
but He has given you such a
garland of griefs
you must share it."
I wrote and rewrote,
I submitted and submitted,
I waited and waited.
But God has His own time,
and it is perfect.
My desire is that others may be encouraged,
and that Christ may be lifted up.

Dorothy A. Galde
Prescott, Arizona 1982


"the bouquet of difficulties the Lord has been pleased to present you" and "garland of griefs."

Those words add color to the picture of God's grace that I had already formed in my mind. My vision of the beauty of His plan encased in pain is a little clearer because of them and for that I am thankful.

5 comments:

  1. Beautiful.

    I must share this with my son who also has such a bouquet, but does not look at it that way.

    Thank you for sharing, Dorci!

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  2. Dorothy's book is in my library as well. I knew her when I lived in Prescott in the 80s--and she was a remarkable woman. She and her husband truly left their mark on the world which extends far beyond their small town. She was a gracious woman, and her story is moving and healing to those who have suffered. Thanks, Dorci--I must read it again...

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  3. Didi, yeah, I can't wait to read it. I started it, and I can't wait to glean from her wisdom and experience.

    Steve, it takes a while, and lots of learning to trust the Lord, to be able to not only accept that God has allowed pain, but then to even go so far as to know that God actually prepared those experiences for us, can take even longer. Your son is blessed to have a dad who will pray for him through his struggles and who loves him so much.

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  4. This is my favorite part:
    "I waited and waited.
    But God has His own time,
    and it is perfect."

    Thanks for sharing =)

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  5. Thanks for stopping by, Claire. One of the things I love so much about the Lord is that He is able to take the same words and minister 10 different things to as many people. He loves us so much and in such a very personal and intimate way.
    God bless,
    Dorci

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Thanks for sharing!