ORIGINALLY POSTED APRIL 21, 2023
ON THE PORCH
YELLOW BRICK ROAD
“You know there’s a brick at Dorothy’s house with his name on it and a date.”
This would have been a random, off-the-wall text for almost anyone in the world. I do not personally know a Dorothy. I had just sent a picture of Uncle David’s newly placed headstone to our family and got this in reply from my Uncle Charles.
Being just 15 miles from Liberal, Kansas where the “Wizard of Oz” Museum resides, I figured out who this “Dorothy” was pretty quickly. Every time our kiddos visited David, he took them to “follow the yellow brick road,” and then we would go back to his house and watch the movie. Unbeknownst to Janet or me, when our family was in Hooker for David’s funeral, a yellow memorial brick had been purchased to honor David’s life and was placed in the “yellow brick road.”
The next morning, Janet and I headed to Liberal in a search for treasure. We called on the way to make sure they were open and told the employee on the phone what we were looking for. When we got to the museum, a very sweet lady came out of her office to greet me. She had not only located the brick but wanted to personally lead us to it. No admission fee was required.
As we walked the yellow brick road, memories of being with David surfaced, and it was nice to think back to the joy it brought him, me and the kids. Janet and I took pictures and cried more. We are so thankful Charles mentioned the beautiful gift in David’s honor.
They no longer sell bricks, and his was the last one sold. David’s brick was ordered when his journey was over, and it completed the “road” he thought so much of. What a beautiful way to honor him.
Don’t you wish our paths were plotted out as easily and as brightly as the yellow brick road? I say that I think it would make life easier, but even having a path painted yellow did not keep Dorothy on it. She ventured off, and every time she did, trouble found her. Our human hearts want to rush ahead and try to “do it by myself,” like little kids.
“Sometimes we wait impatiently on God when He is patiently waiting on us, waiting for us to recognize what He’s already given as part of the answer to our problem.” — Shirer, Priscilla. Awaken.
God does not hide His will. Truth be told, I tend to stray, get impatient, or want to do it my way first. After I make a total mess of things, I am more willing to give it to Him to fix than allow Him to lead. He is a gentleman and won’t yell or interrupt.
Are you seeking God’s face for something specific? Are you stopping long enough to sit and listen? Are you willing to listen to the still small voice and take it one step at a time instead of rushing ahead or stepping off the path, just to see how it goes?
God will lead if we let Him.
Good morning, LORD. Thank You for using the ordinary and making it extraordinary just to love on me. Thank you for my and Janet’s yellow Kiss from the King this week. It meant so much to both of us. And thank You for the thoughtfulness of our family to do this. Thank you for honoring David for being a faithful servant, once again. LORD, help me to stop and listen and recognize Your still small voice. Guide me in the way I should go and give me the patience to wait it out with you, instead of rushing ahead. Thank You for always answering my questions, concerns, and worries and being willing to take my hand and lead me to Your best. In Your holy and precious name, Amen.
**Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
**Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
** You make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Proverbs 16:11
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
ON THE PORCH 