Give Thanks for the Nail...

This summer our family traveled into South Dakota and Wyoming for our family vacation. We witnessed fantastic landscapes and breathtaking open spaces brilliantly carved by God in creation. As so often happens, we packed our days to overflowing with things to see, not wanting to miss any opportunity to show our children the glorious corners of our country before they are grown.

However, one morning, as we journeyed out from our hotel, headed to Wyoming to witness the stark plateau that is Devil's Tower, we only made it a few miles out of town before the "low tire" signal began to blink. "Surely not!" I gasped, as I looked across the car at my husband. I had just had a tire patched earlier that week before we left. Surely we couldn't have another tire issue! Surrendering to caution, we pulled off at the next exit, not wanting to find ourselves with a blown tire in the wilderness that is eastern Wyoming. As I inspected each tire, sure enough...there it was on the driver's side...a large nail head staring back at me.

Sigh...we would have to turn around. We headed back to Rapid City and after a couple of stops, we found a Wal-Mart that would patch our tire late on a Sunday morning. As we considered our options for the wait...and re-calculated our day...the lady behind the counter reminded us that there was a putt-putt golf course just down the hill. My husband and both of my boys love putt-putt, and their eyes lit up. So, off we went, weaving our way through the Wal-Mart parking lot, and down the hill. For the next hour, we wound our way through the pirate ships, water hazards, and green mounds of the course. As we finished up our round, the auto center texted that our car was finished and ready to be picked up. My younger son, the blue-eyed, red-headed explosion of joy that he is, said... "Don't forget, we have to give thanks for the nail!" as he paused, skipping through the parking lot, we all looked at him. "Because of the nail, we got to play mini-golf!" His eyes sparkled, and his grin widened. My husband and I smiled at each other, and tears welled up in my eyes...yes, we will give thanks for the nail.

As I pondered that moment, the Spirit moved in me...and so quickly, as He often does...the Lord moved my heart. We give thanks for the nail. It was inconvenient...it wasn't what we had planned or hoped for...but God made provision in the unexpected journey, and gifted us with moments of joy in spite of the literal bump in the road.

There are other nails we give thanks for...nails with much greater suffering...much greater inconvenience...nails that pierced not a tire, but the hands and feet of our perfect Savior. There were no fun distractions to be had that day. And yet, I can see the eyes of the resurrected Christ sparkling...you have to give thanks for the nail...because of the nail, you have eternal life! Because of the nail, you can know forgiveness and reconciliation. Because of the nail, you are called sons and daughters of God. Because of the nail, a whole new world of hope and joy and peace and love are yours. Because of the nail...

Friends, life can be really hard sometimes...so much worse than a nail in a tire. Life takes unexpected turns...and throws painful realities in our path. The brokenness and suffering of this world sometimes seems boundless...and so far beyond repair. Yet, we are not without hope...because the nails pierced Jesus' hands and feet...because He suffered and died on the cross for us...because the Father raised Him to life on the third day...because He ascended into heaven, and now sits on His throne...we can give thanks. We can walk through the darkness of this world and know peace...because of the nail.

Courage and blessings friends!