My Valentine’s Day Story - Haiti 2015 (part two )

I put my shells and the newest treasure of mine, my red heart rock in my bag. We loaded the bus and headed back to the house to eat dinner.

After dinner, was our free time. Some of us stayed in the dining room for some singing and worship time, while others took advantage of the free bathroom time. Showers were a special time, and we looked forward to them.

I befriended a sweet girl who was with our group and we instantly connected. As everyone turned in for the night, we stayed up taking and sharing what was on our heart. She was still in her teens and I was able to share a few tips on life and love. We had all gone down to the beach earlier that day, and I told her about the incredible story of the rock I had found.

She said, she had also found a heart rock on the beach. I thought to myself, she must be talking about a grey rock that was in the “shape” of a rock. I couldn’t wait to show her my rock, with an actual red heart on it. We decided we would each get our rocks and compare.

So, off we went at about 2:00 in the morning to show off our treasures. We tip-toed through our room in the dark, quietly maneuvering around four sets of bunk beds, being careful not to wake anyone up. I grabbed my bag full of shells and rocks I collected that day, and began to search for my special rock. I searched and searched and the more I looked, the more I started to panic. It just wasn’t there. I remembered I hadn’t taken a picture of it yet. Suddenly, my heart sunk. No one will ever believe my story now.

As tears streamed down my face, I told my new friend it must have fallen out of my bag on the walk back to the bus.

She grabbed my hand and said, “Here, God wants me to give you this,” and she handed me her rock. When she opened up her hand, I almost fell out of my chair! It was twice the size of mine and it was actually in the shape of a heart.

By this time, we were both a blubbering mess of tears and sniffles. She had only known me for a few short days, yet she was obedient and willing to give away this amazing rock.

Although mine was much smaller, it was still incredible. But God was showing me his ways and his plans for my life will always be better than mine.

The next morning as I was getting ready, I grabbed my make up bag and there at the bottom of the bag, was my rock. I ran to my friend and handed it to her and told her God wanted me to give her mine. I didn’t feel right keeping both and I wanted her to have something she could take home to share.

I have used this story many times over the years to remind others how much more God can do for us, even when we think we already have the BEST!

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of. - Ephesians 3:20

What are you doubting today, that you need to turn over to him? He knows what he can do in your life, he’s just waiting for you to let him.