We’ve all heard it: “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” Although I’m a huge fan of lemonade, especially freshly squeezed on a hot summer day at the fair, I think this statement limits my sentiments about lemons. This zesty fruit is the quintessential ingredient of lemonade but offers much more than a refreshing beverage to drink. For example, I recently learned that eating a lemon wedge, rind and all, offers a burst of health benefits and immunity. And having eaten one, the rind is both weird and grounding to the sour of the fruit. And I think when life hands us lemons, sometimes it doesn’t always have to be sweet.

Grams and I battled into Scottsdale on Monday morning for her appointment to get a facial. After unfortunately not being able to be treated, our plans changed, but we used our time to our benefit. The gym I go to has a location up the street. I parked us in a spot convenient for people watching so Grams and Dutchy would have window entertainment. I was just completing the first circuit of my workout when Grams called. I could sense the nervousness in her voice. She asked if I was almost done and I pressed her by saying, “What’s going on? What do you need?” She quietly said, “Someone hit us.”

I powerwalked to my locker; my mind first racing to awful pictures. I then reprimanded those thoughts, praying: “No, I declare my vehicle is safe. No harm has come to my vehicle or anything inside of it in Jesus’ name.” I pray protection over all my family, my belongings, all that is in my dominion and all that will be on a daily basis. I walked out to see Grams on the street and a lovely young lady standing by. She was so kindly apologetic and explained when she turned into the spot, she had bumped my front driver’s side wheel. What are the odds?

There was absolutely no damage. It looked almost like a time when I had turned too close to the curb. A mere smudge on the rubber of the wheel was all there was to show. She and I connected and talked for a while. And I proclaimed this is why we pray! She said, “Oh I love that you pray to Jesus. I do too!” I noticed her nails were ornately done, and she shared with me that she is a nail tech. I’ll go see her in 10 days to do my new set. We exchanged contact info, in case there ended up being damage done to the wheel. No damage was ever exposed. And I was thankful we bumped into each other.

Perhaps this was a lemonade moment. The initial fear mongering thoughts of getting hit could have sent me into a tizzy, like squeezing a lemon in the eye. But instead, the moment yielded a new friend and a delightful conversation. We had circled the parking lot a couple of times and then landed in that spot. If Gram’s would have had her facial, we would have never met. And instead of choosing a sour attitude, we left with sweet sentiments and gratitude. A lemonade moment of the week.

Two days later, Gram’s and I moved camps. Everything was going smoothly until we found our motorhome battery dead as dead could be. A quick trip into the city for a new battery, and some elbow grease from our good friend, Jeff, had us back on the road and in motion. We made our way to the camp, got settled in, and I headed into town. The report back from the motorhome wasn’t great. No power. How could this be? Why could we be without power? I usually go to prayer at my church Wednesday night, but this seemed like a time maybe I needed to get back to camp. Gram’s encouraged me it wasn’t that cold, and I should go to church. I paused and thought for a moment. Whether I’m in church or at home, there’s no heat. So, I might as well go pray. So, I went and prayed.

Bundled up, neither of us slept cold that night. As the sun rose, I realized this was going to be a deep dive into the power knowledge of motorhomes. I opened everything. Found equipment I never knew this thing had. I called the RV specialist. Puzzled, I was frustrated and already feeling defeated. Walking towards my horse’s pen, I stopped to talk to one of the gentlemen I met at camp the day before. He asked if I checked the breaker box. We walked over and he undid the lid. And there it was. The 50-amp switch had been turned off, a common courtesy when campers leave. Once it was switched on, we had power, and life was back as it should be.

As I laid down on my little 5-foot couch, I laughed to myself at my own ignorance of checking the power. I thought of how many nights I’ve slept on this little 5 foot couch, and smiled. The joy of being humbled. Yes, both of these motorhome moments were kind of like eating the lemon wedge raw. I wanted to make a sour face. I could have chosen to be mad about it. But I just let it humble me.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

We were all discussing how this applies to our lives individually. The second part of the scripture had pricked my heart. The only reason God would have said cast all your anxieties was because He knew we would have anxieties. And this world would try and get us to choose anxiousness over humility.

This scripture really came alive while reading the story of Abraham going up the mountain with his only promised son, Isaac. When God told him to sacrifice his son, the most precious thing to Abraham, he committed at the bottom of the mountain. I had not noticed it before, but Genesis tells us he put the wood for the burnt offering on Issac BEFORE they went up the mountain. And when Isaac asked where the offering was. Abraham casted his cares on the Lord by responding, “The Lord will provide.”

Humility is the uncomfortable choice, but it is the only choice that allows the Lord to exalt us. He knew the world would try and make us care about earthly things, whether it be our ego, our possessions, or our own strength. But He said, lay it on the fire. Oh, this stirs within me so powerfully as I write to you readers this week.

What areas do you need to choose humility? Is there a piece of your life you’ve been trying to make lemonade when you really just need to eat the rind? I know it’s uncomfortable. I know it isn’t the easy choice. But it’s the choice with power. It’s the choice with joy. It’s the choice that brings exaltation that earthly, worldly places cannot give us. We all have seeds we have planted, and a ripening lemon tree in our lives. Rather than craving the sweet treat of lemonade, I hope you are encouraged to eat the rind when it’s being asked of you. It could be finding joy in the mundane of life that maybe you used to let pass by without thought. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to throw wood on the fire, and eat the rind.