Most people know the story of Jonah. Many of us heard the bible story when we were young and were even in some cases taught a cute little song about Jonah and the big fish. I remember reading it to my daughter when she was a young toddler.
Interestingly enough, this is the second time in two months this story has been brought back to my attention. Hello donkey!
Today I couldn't help but focus on Jonah 1:17 "But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah..."
Provided. Provided? Per my dictionary, the word provided means 1) to take measures with due foresight and/or 2) to supply means of support.
Now, I don't know about you, but if I were thrown into a raging sea, I am not sure I would see a huge fish that swallows me as a means of support.
Last month, I took my 8 year old to a rescue mission for families (mostly women and their children) to spend a morning with the children there. With the long hot summer we were having, the children living in this "old -hotel turned rescue-center" were bored. A group of moms from my church and their kids stepped up to take some activities over to the home and spend a morning with the kids. We took crafts and snacks and a story. I was asked to read the story to the children while they were eating and the story that had been selected was the story of Jonah.
As I was reading this story to the kids, this same verse jumped out at me. I asked these children if having a huge fish swallow you would be a good or bad thing. Most of the kids (ages were probably 5 or 6 up to 10 or 11) said it was a bad thing. But then I asked if anyone could see it as a good thing. Hands went up into the air immediately. "Yes", they said. " At least he wouldn't be eaten by a shark! And at least he could get some sleep. And at least he didn't drown. And at least it gave him some time to think. And it SAVED him."
What? It SAVED him? What do you mean it saved him? How can something that appears so bad SAVE us?
My 8 year old daughter, who I mentioned, has had quite a ride with her health over the last two years. Living with type 1 diabetes is just plain hard. Add celiac and it just gets harder. She knows I am writing a blog now and she has been begging me to let HER write one as well. I told her to write something on Wordpad last night and I would consider letting her start a blog of her own after I read her idea. I cannot help but share an excerpt of this with you today:
I was 6 years old when I first got type 1 diabetes. I had some weird signs of an illness, and my mom took me to the doctor’s office. The doctor said to pack up some of my things and head to the hospital. My mom called my dad to come home. We live almost 45 minutes from the hospital and I cried for the whole ride there. The doctors were really nice and gave me a Barbie doll and car. I also got a lot of shots. My pancreas is a little below my stomach and usually makes something called insulin. But my pancreas doesn’t make insulin. So I have to get shots every day. I get like 5 or 6 shots a day. Life is pretty hard with diabetes but my family and friends really support me. I just recently found out a little girl named Emma goes to my church and goes to my school. She also has diabetes. She is in kindergarten and I’m in third grade. She is very brave and is a very courageous young girl. Every time I see her I come over and give her a hug and say hi. There’s some people I’d like to thank for helping support me. Below are the names:
Poppy and grammy
Kah and geeo
Mom and dad
My cousins
All my friends
And there’s the person that I belived in most…
Jesus Christ!
I think that big fish just may have saved my baby!
Here's to knowing and believing Romans 8:28
28 And we know that [a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Peace and love to you all!
A
Out of the mouth of babes. What an inspiration and a brave little girl. God made her extra special.
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