My eldest daughter & I had enjoyed morning tea with a delicious Gf caramel nut slice at the airport café… Having arrived early for my scheduled flight home, after visiting with family who live interstate…we walked to the boarding gate where I could see our aircraft through the windows, I had an uneasy feeling about this aircraft…mmmm…
We all boarded the aircraft efficiently & effectively having hugged our loved ones farewell at the boarding gate, we sat in our allocated seats, buckled up, happy the flight was on time to travel to our destination. Over the intercom came the call for certain named passengers to make themselves known to flight crew. I wondered the reason…
As passengers we smiled at each other, strangers & yet companions in travel…chit chatting together while pulling out puzzle books, magazines & crosswords to keep ourselves occupied on the flight. Another announcement issued over the intercom this time from the Pilot…two people had not boarded the aircraft but their checked baggage had already been loaded…which meant that with new security laws, the baggage now had to be located in the hold & unloaded before we could take off, a 40 minute delay would ensue. The lady next to me muttered about inconsiderate people as we sat in our seats on board doing our puzzles & crosswords. I wondered what may have happened to these people…who had already checked their baggage but had not boarded…
Then the following thought crossed my mind…there is always a reason for delays, interruptions to our schedules or a change in plan…especially when we have committed the day to the Lord (my daughter, grandsons & I had prayed together that morning)…Sometimes we get to know the reason & other times not…
As I sat in my seat & pulled out my Gf sushi lunch I had in my handbag, grateful for something to eat while I waited as it was now past lunchtime…the Pilot once again was announcing over the intercom…apparently while unloading the baggage from the hold, an issue with the outside of the aircraft had been spotted, which had been missed in preflight checks, that needed urgent rectification by the Engineers before we could fly!
Ahhh, there was the reason, the lady sitting next to me, commented that this changed the situation entirely & I replied,
“Praise God for people who don’t turn up with checked baggage already in the hold!” She nodded & smiled…
Our flight was uneventful once in the air with a perfect landing & while 70 minutes late, not one passenger complained…rather…all were grateful to be safe, alive & well at our destination & thankful for the delay!
We often get impatient for the delays that are in our lives…Don’t we…We think things should happen in our timing or according to our schedule rather than God’s perfect timing in the situation…
We can’t see the beginning or the end but God can…He is not restricted by our timing…Just as delays may be necessary for safe travel, life delays may be necessary for the timing, circumstances, attitudes or Others to align for the journey to be fruitful…
Let us not be so focused on our timing…rather… May we focus on faith, trust & hope that God is working on whatever we have committed to Him…though we may not be able to see it…The Great Engineer is rectifying the issues before we can fly!
You may also enjoy Blueberry tea time… (click on the green text)…Until next time dear friend…
Jennifer
Copyright; teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photos by Pexel
Wow! What a lesson learnt. Thanks for sharing this.
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Definitely! You’re welcome, lovely having you drop by…
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Amen. The Lord answers prayer. I am so thankful that you had a safe flight. God works in amazing ways, look how He protected you from danger. Such a good lesson and so faith-building! I am very glad you shared this story! Sweet blessings!
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Yes, He does Cheryl, in His time not ours & takes care of things we are totally unaware of for that answer…
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I love God’s timing. He is especially good at getting people to “serendipitously” run into each other.
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I love that too Elizabeth…
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It’s so easy to pass judgement at times Then the Lord reminds us of His faithfulness in what He does or allows.
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Definitely, we are too quick to jump to our own conclusions when prayer seems to go unanswered…don’t we… it comes down to trusting Him for the outcome & waiting patiently for it! Smiling.
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🙏🏽 amen
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Most often we don’t know why the delays, but I rest assured God is always on time and He has it all in His loving Hands. Thanks for the beautiful reminder and am thankful your flight was a safe one.
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Me too…
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Wow, my friend! What a perfect example of the theme of recognizing that delays are often the Lord’s gifts of protection or care or……many other reasons as well. We all can be so quick to judge and get frustrated about a delay in OUR schedule. It can happen to me in traffic jams as well. The last time this happened on a stretch of road not common for that, I started praying for whatever was happening that had brought all the cars to a halt. It was not long after that I discovered a major accident had occurred. Good words here, Jennifer! Thanks11
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You’re welcome Pam, I have a habit now of praying each time I see or hear an emergency service siren…praying for both for the emergency crews & victims…
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This is a great reminder that there is always a reason for God’s timing even when we don’t understand the reason for the delay. I’m glad you made it home safely!
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I am too Lesley!
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Wow! You can still see people to the gate :). Something similar happened to me back in the 80s–right after the Air Tokyo bombing on a Montreal to London-bound airplane. We had to deplane while the flight crew unloaded our luggage in the pouring rain. The flight was delayed about six hours total. One day, I’ll know the reason why!
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Yes, they have to go through all the security screening to accompany the passenger though…
Yes you will know one day Anita…
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Delays are only delays from our perspective. As your pointed out, there’s ALWAYS something going on behind the scenes that we’re not aware of.. and most of the time it has our protection or preparation in mind. Oh that we could remember that lesson when God has us on stand by! thanks!
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Absolutely Karen! Nice to have you drop by…
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I am never a fan of delays, but I’m learning that God is using them like sandpaper to smooth out this restless soul.
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Ahhh, the sandpaper lessons, not easy ones Michele but a beautiful finish is assured!
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I like how the ordinary things in life such as flight delays can remind us that there’s a reason for all our waits. Thanks for sharing your day with us!
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I think that’s where we learn most of our lessons… don’t you think…In the everyday ordinary…
Lovely to have you drop by.
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