During tonight’s bedtime routine my daughter reminded me that I promised to read her a book.  I scanned the bookshelf and gladly grabbed Oh, the Places You’ll Go!  I’ve always been a Dr. Seuss fan.

The evening had not gone my way.  I came home from work stressed.  That’s been a trend the last few weeks.  No major issues – but lots of work to get done and plenty left undone. Stress tends to build up.  It builds up in my heart and mind from time to time.  I do my best to take Jesus up on his offer to provide rest for my soul (see Matthew 11:28-30).  Yet, there are times I simply choose to carry a heavy load.

I raced into the bedtime routine from mowing the lawn.  During my fight to get the mower out of the garage (filled with boxes from our weekend move into our new home), I unknowingly adjusted the height level of one wheel … just one.  After mowing half the lawn, I looked back and realized the jagged mess I had created.  I spent the next 30 minutes trying to fix it.

Sweaty, tired, frustrated, and stressed.

I sat down on the floor of my daughter’s bedroom and opened the book, prepared to read the famous first lines, “Congratulations, Today is your day.  You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!” Before getting there, I remembered the book was a gift from Brad and Trae.  They handed us the book as we departed Crawford, our home for a decade, following God’s call to Sulphur Springs.

Brad and Trae attached a note to the flyleaf.  It was generous and kind.  Tonight it reminded me of two special people and many years of gospel partnership.

The note was a blessing and I stumbled upon it in a helpful moment.  I read Oh the Places You’ll Go! to my daughter with a grateful heart … while trying to hide my teary eyes.

My encouragement to you:

Find yourself a Brad and Trae.

Better yet – be a Brad and Trae to someone this week.