Gratitude in the Lord

For the last two and half months, I have been very worried whether or not I would get a much needed class for my Dental Hygiene major. Basically, this biology class boiled down to me either risking getting rejected to the program or adding an addional year to my time frame, considering it was a required prerequisite course. Neither of these options would have made me happy. See, this biology class has been full for months and I have just been waiting, in the hopes that someone would drop out. Yesterday was purge day (people got dropped from classes if they had not paid in full). 8:00 am was the opening for internet registration. I was online at 7:55 am.

Let me tell you, that was one of the most stressful things I've done lately. From the onset, there were about six classes to choose from. In the midst of me studying my schedule, to see where I could fit in a class, they started disappearing. In a panic I clicked on one to insure I got the class. After further looking, I realized that the class I chose could not work for me (It was on a campus an hour away, stuck at a time right in the middle of my other classes). Then, I tried choosing another one...the computer booted me off saying my time was up (apparently, it only gives you five minutes at a time). My heart was racing, I tried to get back on...the internet site was full. I repetitively tried to logon. Finally, it let me enter again. However, by this time, all the classes were full. I felt my heart just drop! I started thinking, "I should've been more careful, taken a little more time." Uhh. However, then, my thoughts turned to making the class that I had chosen work. At this point, I began to drop some of my original classes and switch them around, but as I did this, they started disappearing as being full. "What is happening?! I'm losing all of my classes!!! Arggghhh!!!" I began to start welling up inside, so depressed. "How do I fix this? What do I do? I can't believe I've lost it all. I've not only made things worse, I've virtually disenrolled myself!" Heart racing, pounding, beating out of my chest, I quickly pause to ask my Heavenly Father for some help. Now, I assure you this was not a full prayer. It was more like a quick thought in desperation.

Okay, breathe. Calm down. Repeat the process. Enter. Re-enter. Search. (I got booted off several times.) I kept seeing the flashes of "full class" appear before my eyes for the classes that I needed. However, I kept persisting. I kept reentering. Until, finally, one by one, all my classes fell into place. I could tell the others online were trying to rearrange their schedules too, dropping and adding in panic. After all was said and done, my schedule ended up being BETTER than I had ever hoped from the beginning. I could not contain myself. I wept bitterly. I knew the Lord provided a miracle for me. I knew He was there answering my lightning fast plea for help. He was by my side and I wept. I wept for joy and thanksgiving.

As I'm writing this now, I can't stop my tears from falling for the gratitude that I feel. I know the Lord is very aware of my life and cares deeply for my progression. I sit in awe at his wonderous hand, always guiding, assisting, and helping me. My heart is so full, to overflowing. I love my Father. I love that He is my friend and that I can totally rely on him. I know that I can put my full trust in his ways. It brings me such peace to have this knowledge. If there were one thing that I could leave with my kids, I would leave this assurance with them: You are a child of God and he loves you. You can depend on him and he will succor your every need. Never turn your back on the Lord because he is your greatest asset. Love him with all your heart because that's the way he loves you.