When it Doesn’t Work… But Then It Does

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader:

How many times have we looked back on situations that initially disappointed us-perhaps a job interview that went wrong or a missed opportunity that passed us by-only later to discover there was a better job waiting for us in the near future and/ or an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity just lying around the next bend.

These are the memories that make us call out ” WHEW! That was a narrow escape -almost took the wrong career path or went looking for love in all the wrong places. It was not meant to be.

My initial accusatory prayers asking God why He didn’t give me what I most wanted-always have turned to a humbled prayer for forgiveness and gratitude-promise not to second-guess God again.

The best life lessons that I have received along the theme of trusting God’s intuitions over our own, have come from my flower gardens.

Take the picture of the two huge beautiful blooms I discovered on my Confederate Rose. Last year it didn’t bloom-and the branches appeared to be dying. I was so distraught-it was over 20 feet tall!

One day last year I took a leap of faith and cut all the branches back to three feet of bare limbs. Nothing happened… until spring when large green leaves started sprouting but still no buds.

When I left for the beach-the branches had grown taller but no buds-yesterday something caught my eye-a pink and white bloom! A miracle! Upon closer inspection the buds were appearing like popcorn popping.

Once again the legend of the Confederate Rose was coming true-from initially just a white blossom tree-the story of a Confederate soldier bleeding to death on a fallen white bloom that changed color in a two day interval …including pink and then a dark Rose color as he took his last breath. Tomorrow I will take the picture of the Rose-colored bloom before it too falls off and dies at the foot of the Confederate Rose!

So until tomorrow…

Today is my favorite day. Winnie the Pooh

Walsh and Mollie were returning home yesterday and Marcia-with help from Eloise, began decorating the front lawn to surprise Mollie with her benchmark birthday.

Happy Birthday Mollie!

And now TODAY is my pretty niece Bekah’s birthday-October is a popular family birthday month!

This past year has been a catalyst for change and I hope more good changes continue to come your way Bekah! Love you!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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2 Responses to When it Doesn’t Work… But Then It Does

  1. Rachel Edwards says:
    October 19, 2021 at 7:20 am

    All in God’s timing. …loved the saying about things slipping out of our grasp…so very true. I ❤ it.

    Reply

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