Thoughts from a walk

I was going on a little walk around the farm that we are staying on last week when I started thinking. Surrounded by the beautiful view of mountains, sugar cane fields and the valley and river bellow the farm I started thinking of how grateful I am to enjoy this view. A few years ago I used to have a plan, not an exact plan, but some form of a short term life plan, it involved graduating from university, moving to Haiti for 2 years and then heading on back to Ireland to do a post grad study, get a job and live happily ever after. My plan would not have involved me enjoying the view that I currently do; my plan didn’t involve moving to Swaziland and I am very grateful that I am not the one who constructed the current life plan that I am enjoying living.

I did manage to graduate, spent about 2.5 years longer than I had originally anticipated in Haiti, have yet to complete a post grad study (but the desire to do one has left me, for now) and currently am without a paying job. Life doesn’t always go as planned but my plans certainly weren’t as good as God’s and I’m thankful that although life hasn’t always been easy it certainly has been rewarding.

In the middle of my thoughts I glanced down and looked at the clothes I was wearing and was once again reminded of how blessed I am. I had purchased my under garments but everything else had been given to me; t-shirt given to me in Haiti, comfy shorts a gift from Julia and my favourite running shoes a generous gift from Jenn. Other people have generously given to us; other people have literally supplied us with all that we need, even the clothes on our backs. Here we live in Swaziland, living on the generosity of other people’s wedding gifts.  We have the freedom to travel where we want to, when we want to because Dan generously supplied us with his bike while he’s away. We have a roof over our head, instead of a tent, because Brian and Tammie have generously allowed us to stay in their rented accommodation.  We have so much and not by our own hands or efforts but because of the generosity of others.

I have no idea where the next five years will lead, where Arlyn and I will be walking then but I know who does and I just hope that we will get to enjoy a view that’s even half as beautiful as our current one. Thinking while walking was yet another great reminder of how blessed we are, another reminder that it is God who provides for us, He meets all our needs “according to his glorious riches” (Phil 4:19).  We are so thankful for all of you who have helped us be here; for those who pray for us and those who have financially supported us…..thank you or as they say in Siswati “ngiyabonga”.