I KNOW, without a doubt...

...That our Heavenly Father keeps His promises to us.

And, even though we are sometimes required to wait on them for a time, when it is time to bless us with that which we have been waiting, He rewards us with a blessing so much greater than we could have possibly even hoped for.

I once tried to explain this principle to Porter:

Let's say you are craving a piece of apple pie. A Lot.

So you ask your mom if she would make an apple pie. She tells you Yes, but that it will take some time.

She begins making it and you patiently wait as you watch her cut each apple into thin slices.

"Is it ready yet?", you ask.

"No, not yet", she replies.

Your mom then carefully measures the spices and sugar to stir into the apples. You watch and wait and wonder just how long this is going to take. You can tell your mom knows exactly what she is doing as she smiles and continues to work...

...but waiting is becoming more difficult.

She begins to make the dough for the crust; mixing and kneading the carefully measured ingredients.

"Now is it time for me to have my piece of apple pie?"

"Not yet, my child. Please be patient with me as I make this pie."

So your mom continues to work on the crust, rolling it out to fit the pie pan. She pours the apples into the pie shell and continues to roll a top crust for the pie. Carefully, she lays the top crust over the apples, trims away the excess crust, and like a master, shapes the edge of the pie.

"Oh, mom! The pie is perfect! It looks delicious. I have been so patient. Can I please have a piece of apple pie now?"

She lovingly tells you, "No, not quite yet. We still have to put the pie into the oven to bake and then it will have to cool so it doesn't burn your mouth. You will have to be patient just a little bit longer."

You don't think it is possible to wait a single minute more. Your patience is nearly gone and the prospect of eating a piece of the apple pie seems an eternity away. Discouraged, you go to your room to try and get your mind on something else.

Some time passes, and before you know it, your mother has come into your room. She is smiling and holding two plates. One for you and one for her. She lays a plate down where you are sitting and you see a marvelous sight!

Not only is a piece of the apple pie sitting on your plate, but it is the BIGGEST piece of apple pie you have ever laid eyes on.....AND it is still warm (just like apple pie is meant to be eaten).....AND it has a scoop of vanilla ice cream slowly melting into a creamy heap all over......AND it is drizzled with caramel sauce.......AND your mom sits down right where you are and shares in your joy as the two of you eat your pie together.

And this is just how our Heavenly Father works. He knows each one of our hearts and the desires that rest inside.

His love for us is nearly unfathomable. And if He requires us to wait on a blessing, (whether it be a few moments, a few years , or an entire lifetime) He will always make it well worth the wait. Above and beyond that of which we had hoped for.

Plus, He is always there to 'share' in the joy with us. This is how we know that these gifts come from Him.

Last year, about this time, our family was the recipient of one of these long-awaited blessings:

~Evelyn Ruth~

...Our daughter, sister, miracle, and warm slice of apple pie.

Our Joy Is Full.