Before I can really answer this, let’s consider what greatest could mean. There have been many great surprises in my life, though some good and some were bad.
Two of the bad surprises were the early and fairly sudden deaths of both of my parents. My mother had been in the hospital for a couple of weeks and after a lot of test they discovered she had ovarian cancer. After the surgery to remove the cancer the doctor informed us it had spread throughout a lot of her organs. There were some complications following the surgery and the hope for her healing was dwindling. She was only 62. It was a great surprise that was sad! In the summer of 1992, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After surgery, he went back to a normal healthy life. Summer of 1993, his diagnosis was bladder cancer which led to the removal of his bladder. He was adjusting to his life post surgery and was getting healthy. A few months later, he started to have Flu symptoms; high temperatures, chills and aches. As these got worse, he was admitted to the hospital and after a lot of tests the doctors discovered cancer in his liver. Within about 3 weeks he was dead. Another great surprise, but sad. My parents both had faith in the resurrection, as do I, so I have lived with the knowledge we will be reunited together in eternity. So many advances have been made in cancer research, so by the time you are reading this people will not be dying of those types of cancer.
It’s probably good to start with these. I don’t you want to be fearful, but I do want you to have faith. Life is unpredictable! You may have some surprises along the way. The best way to be prepared is to trust God and to know He has your best interest, even when life looks uncertain and you encounter some sad surprises.
It’s time to share some of the GREAT surprises in my life! I like to be surprised in this way!
The first Christmas Sassy and I spent together was on a ski trip with her family. On that trip, her dad and brother wore Cowboy hats. It was my second time in Colorado and I was beginning to fall in love with the Colorado outdoor life. It probably showed. Their Christmas present to me was a Browning Outdoors man hat. I still have it. I keep out in our apartment in Colorado. Hopefully, you will remember it when you are reading this.
In a previous note, I already shared about the surprise gift of a new guitar. You might want to reread that note. As I write this, I am wondering which of you is going to possibly play guitar. It just might end up in your possession. Surprise!
As you get older, your birthday parties are not quite like they were when you are young. Your mother and grandmother plan and execute great parties. There are some special birthdays which usually call for big celebrations. Some of those are when you become a teenager, at 16, 18 and 21. After that the big celebrations are usually at each decade. Sassy often tried to put on Surprise Birthday parties, but somehow, I often figured it. As much as I like surprises, it was often fun to get a little ahead of her.
On my 40th birthday, she did pull off a Great Surprise. We had led a Maundy Thursday Service at Lakewood UMC where we were serving. That year, it happened to be very close to my birthday. After the service as I was helping to lock the building and turning off lights, one of our members asked if I could help him with an issue on the sound system in our fellowship hall. As we walked into a dark room, I turned on the lights and over a hundred people yelled “Surprise!” I was!!!!!! She finally surprised me and it was a Great One!
Though I am not as good at throwing parties, many years later, I was able to surprise her on her 50th birthday! I guess I was surprised I could surprise her. By the way, she has helped a lot of people have great celebrations. She always deserves a party in her honor, though has rarely gotten one. That is just how she is!
In some ways my greatest surprise should not be a surprise. It began when I was appointed to start a new UMC in Jacksonville. Sassy and I were pretty happy serving at Lakewood UMC and leading another Ministry to Youth and Young adults, but knew one day we would probably be appointed to a church outside of Jacksonville. In the winter of 1995, I was asked if I would accept an appointment to begin a church in Jacksonville. There were so many things which made this surprise great. We would be able to stay in a community we loved. We had a lot of great support and resources available to us! Probably, the greatest part of the surprise was we were greatly encouraged to break from tradition and to use styles of music and communication to attract people. It was a great surprise, but I felt like God had been preparing us for something like this for almost 20 years. Most new churches when they have their first service were very happy if 150-200 people attend. Our first service had almost 500 people attend in a building which could barely seat 350-400. The first year we averaged almost 350 per week. As a part of that great surprise, I would be the lead pastor of CrossRoad Church for over 22 years. So many surprises came during those years of ministry!
Before I close this, I need to share about God and surprises! Nothing surprises God! God is always prepared to help us through the Sad Surprises and the Happy Surprises. I am not sure if God plans every detail of our lives, everything that happens, especially those types of things that bring pain and suffering. What I do know is that God is not surprised; He is not caught off guard. The apostle Paul wrote: “Romans 8:28 NASB 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” In tragedy and in celebrations, God is in control. I pray you will grow to have that kind of faith!
There’s no way to prepare for all life will have for you. Expect God to surprise you! God is always at work in our lives!
Gee Sprague, November 10, 2022