March 30 Chapel

Today's Chapel Message is from the wonderful Mrs. Daniels! Read it, reflect on it, and then do our activity at the bottom.

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Disappointed Daughters of a Good & Faithful Father

My son Thomas turned 10 years old today. There wasn’t much about his celebration that bore any resemblance to what I would have described as our plan if you’d asked me two weeks ago. The cake was made and decorated with what we had on hand (including a bag of M&M’s his big sister had to loan me from her Valentine’s Day stash). Most of the gifts didn’t arrive on time (deemed non-essential by Amazon’s standards). Instead of Five Guys, dinner was homemade burgers on defrosted buns and oven-baked Ore-I-Da french fries. I even tried to create an outdoor scavenger hunt as a special treat - but it rained and I accidentally hid one gift in the wrong spot and we had to end early because I had to get home for a Zoom meeting.

Here's the crazy part: When I tucked Thomas into bed tonight, he thanked me for a great birthday. And as I laid there next to him, trying to figure out how he could possibly mean that, it hit me. Thomas knows we love him unconditionally, that we wanted him to have a wonderful birthday, and he trusts that what we gave him was our absolute best.

These last few weeks of upheaval have provided each of us with disappointments and unfulfilled expectations of all kinds. Whether it’s a concert you didn't get to perform, a game you didn’t get to play, a special occasion you didn’t get to celebrate, or a trip you didn’t get to take, COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down and, in many senses, cleared the decks.

But guess what? Just like Thomas went to bed after a lackluster birthday feeling loved and blessed, you and I can also rest in the knowledge that we have a loving Father who walks beside us through each and every disappointment, and has only good in mind as our ultimate destination.

Psalm 46 captures this truth so beautifully when it describes our fears (vs.2 “though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea”) but also God’s power and presence with us (vs. 1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”; vs. 10 “Be still and know that I am God.”). 

I encourage you to take a few minutes at some point today and read Psalm 46 in its entirety. We may not be facing the literal crumbling of the physical world, but that doesn’t mean these truths that brought the psalmist comfort can’t do the same for us as we face our own modern-day disappointments.

Take heart, Sisters. We are disappointed daughters right now, but our Father is faithful. He is working all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). He loves us, He wants what’s best for us, and He will never fail to give us His very best.

With much love and many prayers,

Mrs. Daniels

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Activity:

Something that we have learned is that it feels good to love others. You may be a disappointed daughter, like Mrs. Daniels described in her message, or you may have a disappointed Sister, so why not love somebody today. It can cheer you up, and encourage someone else in the process!

So, for our activity today, we are writing some encouraging snail mail letters! In previous chapels, we have made encouraging letters to give to someone in person. However, we obviously can't see one another in person, but who doesn't like getting the mail and seeing your name on a handmade card. Be creative, be encouraging, and don't be afraid to send a card to whoever God put on your heart!