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Happy Birthday!

Disclaimer: This is my story, but it is not a story about me. This is about what God can do. Oh, one more thing (a disclaimer within a disclaimer). While I am prone to exaggeration in my stories, I am not prone to exaggeration in my life.

The very fact that I am hesitant to write about this says more about my lack of faith than about one answered prayer. Undoubtedly God has answered many of my prayers. But I am guessing there are many boxes of unanswered prayers waiting because I have simply not asked. Here's what happened.

My wife and I have been planning the gala event of the year; our son's 6th birthday party. It means a lot to us that it goes off well because he lives in a world largely dominated by estrogen. He has two sisters and a church full of girls his age. While this will might be deemed a good thing in his mind in about ten years, right now he lives to play with and wrestle boys.

So we set the date and plan for outside water games. We also buy some blow-up boxing gloves for use on our trampoline, which seems appropriate given the audience. All systems are go for the ultimate boy party. Then we check the weather. All week long the weathermen, who are always accurate, are calling for rain on Saturday. This results in stress for my wife as she imagines 7 boys in her house. It leads to stress for my son who wants water games and boxing gloves. Stress for them translates to stress for me.

So, in a rare moment of courage, or defiance, or stupidity, I have a heart to heart with the Almighty. (I preach it, why can't I live it?) I talk to Him about many things, but add that I don't care if it rains Saturday morning and Saturday night, I want 2-4pm to be sunny skies.

Saturday morning comes and goes with great big ominous clouds all over. I pray again, in case God needs a reminder. About an hour before the party is supposed to start, it's still cloudy and my wife and I debate getting water balloons together. Seriously, I need more faith.

With about 15 minutes to go before the party starts, the skies open up and it is actually warm outside. So I scurry around getting water games ready, assuming my rush is punishment for my not believing that God, who is a Father and likes to give good gifts, would want to grant one of His children a happy birthday.

I'd like to take another crack at some other mountains in my life. Perhaps I'll take them one at a time.
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