I love surprises, don’t you? Unexpected gifts, sweet notes of encouragement out of the blue, or small thoughtful acts. Such things represent the care, love, and grace of friends and relatives. God delights in surprising us sometimes, often out of the blue in totally unexpected ways. Such surprises can’t be explained by random chance; only the providential love of God supplies an answer. Recently God has been quite busy surprising me.  The story begins last fall with a call from someone inviting me to speak for three luncheons in an area several hours away. Because my sister recently relocated there, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to visit her…