Sur - prise – a brief emotional state that is the result of experiencing an unexpected relevant event.

Last Wednesday, June 22, was a big surprise – for Jonathan!

Initially, I was disappointed because the flight to Fargo, North Dakota, was unavailable on Thursday, June 23.  Having no other options, I purchased a flight for Wednesday.  After doing so, it hit me – Wednesday is Jonathan’s birthday!

“This is great,” I said to myself.  “I’ll show up unexpectedly at Jonathan’s work place at Lifetime Fitness and sing happy birthday to him.”  As it turned out his supervisor, Ellen, gave him the day off.

Coordinating with two of his friends, Weston and Heather, I learned that Jonathan and Weston were planning to golf on Wednesday.  “This is even better,” I mused.  “I’ll really surprise Jonathan by showing up at the golf course at tee-off time and golfing with him and Weston.”

It just so happens that all Northwest flights to Fargo from Springfield go through Minneapolis, where Jonathan is living this summer.  On Wednesday I arrived at the airport, eager and excited to board the early morning flight.  Mechanical problems. . . delay. . . can’t find a mechanic. . . delay. . . flying a mechanic in from Memphis. . . delay.  I had no other options – I had to wait.  Romans 8:28 is true – but it takes a lot of faith to believe it when delays mount.

By the time I landed in Minneapolis and my good friend, John Swanson, drove me to the Francis A. Gross golf course near the downtown, Jonathan and Weston were on the eighteenth hole, just approaching the green.  I arrived just in time to see Jonathan’s unbelievable iron shot from the fairway to within a few feet of the flag.

You can imagine his jaw-dropping shock and surprise when he saw me sitting in a golf cart near the green!  Hugs, smiles, a tear of two (from me)!

 It’s so fun to plan and execute a surprise!

We went back to his apartment on the North Central University campus.  It was a bit surreal. Our only son – living with his friend, Zach  – paying his own rent and buying his own food.  It’s hard to believe! 

When he offered me pretzels – pretzels he had purchased with his own money – I eagerly took several.  This was the first time, as far as I can recall, that I ate food which Jonathan had purchased at the grocery store!   I ate each pretzel slowly, savoring every bite.  For some reason – eating food that he purchased tasted exceptionally good to me.  I’m thinking – “After twenty-two years – it’s about time!”

After giving Jonathan the gift and cards we had for him and visiting one of the Twin Cities’ famous ice cream shops (my idea, too), my surprise visit ended as Jonathan and Heather drove me to the airport so I could catch an evening flight to Fargo.  Happy tears flowed as I stood in line.

The total time I was with Jonathan was only two hours. But surprising him on his 22nd birthday is a memory I’ll have forever!

God loves to surprise us, too!  Nearly every day he shows up in some surprising way to bless us. The road of life is not always easy.  In fact, often it’s just plain difficult.  God, of course, is aware of the challenges we face.  So – He surprises us! 

And here’s the truth – God’s good surprises give us the strength we need to finish strong!