When Chris and I graduated from Texas A&M, the graduates were so plentiful, they had three separate graduations. Our parents came into town, the U-haul was packed and ready for our move to Little Rock and we cleaned like crazy (to get that wonderful $150 deposit back from our Sonnenblick apartment). I graduated with the business school on Friday night. Chris was to graduate on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday, we had turned in our apartment keys and had vacated our first home. The U-haul was parked and ready to go, and we all headed to see Chris graduate.
Chris has a wonderful sense of humor…God does, too! Why do I say that? Wait and see…
We wait the full 2 hours and watch for Chris. Chris gets his tube and quickly opens it, as he walks to his seat. He glances inside and puts the lid back on. Then he looks at us and turns it upside down, mouthing, it’s empty. No diploma here! Ha! Ha! Ho..ho…Mmmm. He sits down and we wait another 45 minutes. Then we get in the van together. Chris says, “There really is no diploma. Just a sheet of paper saying I haven’t met all of the requirements for graduation.” He’s not laughing anymore. “What???” I say, “The only reason we are moving to Little Rock is for YOUR graduate school! What will we do?” So, we travel with our parents back to E. Texas for the night. The next day, we move into our new apartment. We have no job. Chris has no degree. What will we do? Chris’ parents laugh it off. “Oh, it will be OK,” they say. Humph, I think.
There isn’t a thing we can do until Monday morning. So Monday finally rolls around…my eyes are red and puffy from crying. Finally, the offices open at 8:30 am. Chris calls…by 8:32, Chris finds out that “Oh (ha ha), we misapplied a class. We’ll send the diploma in the mail. What’s your new address?” I am infuriated! How could they misapply a class? Why didn’t they ask earlier? They would have saved us a world of worry–me anyway.
So we moved to Little Rock for 2 years, while Chris got his masters, I went to work. It was a wonderful time with godly people all around us. We were so blessed! Chris got a job at Libbey Glass and we moved to E. Texas in February 1996. He didn’t get his diploma, yet–they came out in May. May rolled around and I got the mail. A letter…from University of Arkansas. What does it say? “Dear Chris, I’m sorry, but you haven’t fulfilled all the requirements for graduation.” This time how did I react? I laughed…out LOUD! I said, “OK, Lord I get it. Yes, this is quite funny.” I called Chris at work and he called UALR. What did they say? “Oh (ha ha) we misapplied a class. We’ll send your diploma in the mail. What’s your new address?”
You see God does have a sense of humor. I think He laughs a lot, not derisively, mind you. He just thinks that we need a couple of similar situations to get our attention. He is trustworthy…He can be trusted. If only we would. My sense of humor? Well, it’s gotten better. I think a lot more is funny now. And trust? Well, I am trusting more and more each day.
I want to hear more about your Little Rock years. I know that city well, and I love it.
Good lessons.
Why is it that even after such things our first reaction is still–Oh no what will we do?
Last night at church when I looked down at my ring and saw the emerald missing, I thought, I can’t believe it one more thing I am going to have to take care of.
Now I completely forgot that I walk in favor with my God. He created that little lost emerald and many more like it. Might I add that I really do favor those little green ones.:)
So this morning-after God gave my thought life a little shaking–I claimed my favor. I thanked God in advance that the jeweler would replace it, no cost to us. Now I am back from the jeweler and,YES, they are going to replace it no cost to us. And they are going to take care of some other things too.
Our God is faithful to take care of His people. He is good–nothing but 100% good.
You just have to love Him!
Talk at ya latter.
Praying for my sister and brother in those beautiful mountains God made for them and me to enjoy!Yes, I’m talking about you and Chris. π
LOL!!! It’s NOT funny, but it is at the same time.
You’re right – He can teach us to laugh a little more. And for this Type A personality, I love that!
My, I would have flipped out…sadly, probably both times π
I think that God would like to sometimes pop us up side the head and say, “Lighten up and have some fun”… yes, His sense of humor, I do believe is over joyous at times..
we need to learn to live in it…and have fun..
something about that “Abundant life” we just can’t get!!!
blessings
Not Funny. I have one semester left…that’s just scary…I’ll be calling and making sure I graduate. π
Luv ya H,
Kate
Soooo you noticed the new words to the song. π you couldn’t Kiss me and there was not reason to want ya’ll to cry for me–thus the new words.
My house better pass muster—well I’d stay here anyway. π
Catching up on a few of my girls before I turn off the computer and pack it.
Praying for you.
I’ll drop in while I am gone.
Love ya girl