It was getting close to time for school to be out. Summer vacation would soon be here. Everyone was excited about having time to go swimming, visiting with family and friends and just sleeping late in the mornings. Some talked about going to the lake and others would be taking trips to Disney World.

Our two granddaughters, Faith and Mary Kathryn, wanted to go to the beach. Living in the center of the United States, they had never seen a beach. Both longed to sit, covered in sand, on the shores of a giant ocean. But, for their single, schoolteacher mom there had always been an extra job in the summer. This left little time and money for long-term vacations.

As summer approached they all prayed that God would, this year, give them that much desired vacation. As the end of school came nearer, Jeri Sue said to them, "Girls, I believe this is the year God is going to allow you to see a beach. We may have to stop at the first one we come too. And then come back the next day. But, God is going to arrange for us to have a beach vacation."

Their prayer became, "Thank you, Lord, that this summer we will get to see the beautiful part of your world called a beach."

Days continued to pass. Faith and Mary Kathryn heard their friends saying, "When school is out we are going to Branson", and "My family is driving to Six Flags." From others came the words, "Orlando is where we are flying for our vacation." Their faith never wavered. They wanted to see a beach and God was going to answer that prayer.

On the last day of school the parent of one of Jeri Sue's fifth grade students casually asked what she and the girls would be doing during the summer. She told her the story of their wanting to go to the beach. To Jeri Sue's absolute amazement, Rebecca said, "I believe our time-share has a condo in Florida. I will check and see."

When Jeri Sue came in from school that day there was a message on her answering machine. Reservations had been made for a full week at an ocean-front condo in Palm Beach Shores, Florida. A gift from the Tucks! And without knowing it, Rebecca had made the reservation the week of Jeri Sue's birthday!

What an awesome God we serve! What a gift from Him through the parents of a fifth grade student. A neurosurgeon in our average-size town sharing with a single mom and her two daughters who had prayed to Him to let them see a beach. 

Their tears of thanks soon turned into the fervor of getting ready to leave. With visions of white-capped waves billowing over their heads, they gathered up articles for a garage sale. Faith and Mary Kathryn worked any extra chore they could find to earn some spending money.

One day a call came from the small Christian school where Jeri Sue teaches. Someone anonymously had left a hundred dollar bill for the vacation. Their Aunt Julia's babysitter was in Summer School for a few weeks and she needed them to stay with our other two grandchildren, Levi and Brooke. Generous is hardly the word to use when they learned how much she was giving them to help with the cousins. Birthday money for Jeri Sue came in from family members. Bathing suits, sun-tan lotion, and shoes to walk in the hot sand on the beach were bought.

Finally, that long anticipated day arrived. It would take two days on the road. They didn't mind. They had their books and games. A friend had even loaned them a TV-VCR to watch their videos in the back of their Blazer. Grandma had bought, among other things, a two-hour phone card so they wouldn't have to use their cell phone in roam.

They reached their halfway destination the first day in time to swim at the hotel before bedtime. Calls were made home to assure everyone they were fine and having a wonderful time. But, the thoughts and dreams bouncing around in their minds were on that far Southeast state of Florida with the miles and miles of ocean and beach.

The second day passed a little faster and about mid-afternoon they arrived in West Palm Beach. To get to the ocean front condo where they would be staying in Palm Beach Shores, they must go over a bridge. As they began that short journey their eyes soon began feasting on the most beautiful sight Faith and Mary Kathryn had ever seen. The Atlantic Ocean! With water and sand as far as their eyes could behold.

As they crossed over Blue Heron Bridge, eight year-old Mary Kathryn, with her beautiful innocent blue eyes gazing upon that beauty she had so longed to see said, "Mama, my mouth just won't quit grinning." That is the story of their next seven days. Their hearts and mouths kept smiling. In gratefulness to God who would smile upon them enough to supernaturally provide this time for them.

When Jeri Sue shared those words of Mary Kathryn's over the phone with me I thought, God smiles on His children every day. He smiles when we pray to Him and when we cherish our time with Him every day. He smiles when He provides us with food for our bodies, clothes to cover us, and shelter to live in.

And then there are times like that fabulous week in Florida! God smiled whiled Jeri Sue, Faith, and Mary Kathryn basked in His earthly beauty of sand and sea. That had been so generously shared with them through friends. Thank you, Lord.

Let the smile of your face continue to shine on us!