Closing a Chapter

“What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.”   ~Corrie ten Boom

Last Friday afternoon, my trusty mover, Ronnie, and I loaded all of my possessions into a 16' Budget truck and headed north.  It marked the closing of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another.

As I reflected (one has plenty of time to do that on a 9.5 hour drive....) on the chapter that was College Station, I came to several conclusions in addition to my list of things I will miss, which I previously posted here.

During my contemplation, I realized that I should determine a theme for each chapter in my life.  (If it was good enough for Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love, why not me?)  And as I thought back on the last year and a half, it was fairly clear to me that the College Station chapter must be dubbed the chapter of answered prayers.

When I moved south, I had been on two dates with The Boy from Texas.  I was left with a long distance relationship and lots of worries and unanswered questions.  Slowly but surely--in His timing--each worry was relieved, each question was answered.  I spent hours upon hours wondering, plotting, planning, and praying about what the future would hold.  I had amazingly wonderful friends who prayed with me.  I have no doubt there was intercession from the saints whom I begged for intercession. 

There are chapters where prayers are not answered in the way that we want.  The miracle doesn't come, the situation does not change, the plan does not work.  And as hard as those times are, I do believe God ultimately uses them for His glory.  But sometimes, just sometimes, His glory is shown by answering our pleas in the exact way we prayed for.  I tend to forget that can happen, and I'm so thankful for the reminder.

The College Station chapter was, for me, one of answered prayers. 

It was fitting then, I think, to see this in the front yard the day I drove away. 

I planted this rosebush last spring.  And then I got busy and did nothing to care for it.  And then it died.  I mean, it was still green, but there hadn't been any hint of a bloom, much less a rose for 6 months. 

But on Friday morning, I awoke to a single red rose.  Immediately, I remembered praying to St. Therese, who promised to spend her time in Heaven doing good on earth and showering the world with roses.  (She's quite popular with my sweet friend Super Mom as well.....read this.) 

A beautiful red rose, a beautiful answered prayer, a perfect ending to this chapter.