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Oh, how I long to escape to the beach! I want to shuffle through sugary sand, sit under a huge umbrella, and read a few lines before I’m lulled to sleep by the rhythmic Gulf waves.

Since childhood, I’ve enjoyed beach vacations, and I’m thrilled that my granddaughters love them as much as I do.

One of their favorite activities is collecting seashells. They run up to the water’s edge and sift through the sand to see what new treasure the Gulf may deliver. If they spy something, it’s quickly scooped up before another wave washes it away. They become so frustrated when their hunt is futile.

A couple of years ago it dawned on me that I could do something to help in their seashell search. I slipped away to the souvenir shop and bought a few bags of shells. Right before sunset, I scattered the shells on the beach. Later when my granddaughters ran to the beach, dragging their monogrammed shell bags behind them, they were surprised and delighted by what they found.

I love planning surprises, and I think that God loves to do that, too. An often-quoted Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, is one I lean on:  “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” I believe that in the detailed blueprint that God has for our lives, He purposefully plants blessings to surprise and delight us.

My granddaughters don’t know that I’m the one who planned their beach surprise, but I am fully aware of the One who prepares my path. And that’s why I often lift my eyes and whisper, “Thank You.”

Ronny Michel can be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.