It was a snowy day today, so we stayed inside all day. It was a good day to get some projects done. I had specific cleaning I was able to get done in the kitchen. My dad worked on getting copies of some old photos with my mom’s help. My brother continued cleaning up the sound in old audio cassette tapes. Sometimes it’s nice to just be in and watch the snow.
I Found God today being warm inside and getting projects done.
I spent some time today with a new friend and met her husband. They will be celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary soon. As they talked, their love and support for one another was obvious. She has had some health issues, but still enjoys making homemade treats for people including her husbands co-workers. He has had to limit her production as he knows it is difficult for her. He told me that he loves his job and that when he gets home, he enjoys doing “home things”. He said how much he appreciated her taking care of the household so that when he is home they can just spend time together. It was super sweet – especially after 30 years of marriage.
I Found God today in a loving married couple.
My parents and I took advantage of the gorgeous day and went out for a walk. On the way, we met a neighbor who told us of her exciting upcoming trip. She will be going to a small country in Africa that I had never heard of before. When I asked her why, she explained that she and her husband had sponsored a boy there through the organization Compassion International. They started when he was 6 years old and now he is 18. They are going to meet him face to face. She said she couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate her 74th birthday.
I Found God today in a compassionate and generous woman.
My son invited me to a hockey game tonight featuring his alma mater. Before the game, he and 2 of his friends came over for dinner. At one point they were talking work and technical things and to me it sounded like a foreign language. They were also funny and energetic. I very much enjoyed their relationship and had a lot of fun hanging out with them. My parents said they really liked having them over.
I Found God today enjoying time with my son and his friends.
A friend is struggling with her own health as she worries about and is caring for her husband who is ill. She called me today as she received an invitation for a caregivers seminar coming up soon. She said she thought of me and wanted to give me the information in case I wanted to go. In spite of her difficulties, she thought of me.
I Found God today in a thoughtful friend.
The past few months, I have had to make a visit to the dermatologist due to irritating spots on my arm. I ended up having 3 biopsies at 2 different times and having all 3 of those removed as they were basal cell carcinoma. I have not been worried about it, but it is an annoyance and keeps me out of the swimming pool for a couple of weeks. I had another appointment today. The doctor looked everything over and gave me a clean bill of health. He didn’t even have to use the small can to freeze off any small spots. I was super happy to get the good news. Now hopefully I won’t have any more problems.
I Found God today receiving good health news.
After a long time of struggling, my mom got some new hearing aids last week and has been trying to figure them out. Tonight she and my dad got out the booklet and went through how to clean them. They read about many of the options available. She pushed the buttons as she read to learn more about how they work. Then for the final test, she called her sister. She said she could hear and understand everything her sister said. She didn’t have to put in too much effort or get frustrated. That is a huge improvement and it made my mom very happy. That made my dad and me happy as well.
I Found God today as my mom’s hearing is much improved which lessens the stress.
For the past few days, I have heard unapologetic witnessing to the grace of God in unexpected places. When I am at my prayer group or in my Bible class, the point is to recognize God’s love and mercy and to share that with one another. But I don’t expect to hear the same at my exercise class, or in the locker room, or at a caregiver’s group. One woman talked about how God led her to be able to fix her dryer. She knew it was God at work and she knew she needed to tell others. Several people talked about praying for one another and how much they appreciated prayers. In the caregiver’s group, every person there spoke about having God in their lives. It is refreshing and encouraging to speak openly about faith in places other than a “religious” setting.
I Found God today in the public witness of others.
I saw a quote today from Ralph Waldo Emerson. I read it to my parents and we thought it was a great way to start the day.
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
I Found God today in an uplifting poem.
Today I read a story from a beautiful friend of mine who teaches in a Catholic school. I am sharing it here for you.
“This is what real love looks like.. About a week and a half ago I received a message from a friend asking for prayer. This happens often and I am most lovingly obliged. It was a prayer request that someone who was near death, that their heart be softened and that they would see and speak with a priest before passing away. At the point of the message there was little interest, to see a priest, by the person dying. The person asking for prayer was reaching out because he knows heaven and hell are real!!! He was very concerned for his friend and wanted to do all he could. This is an incredible understanding and knowledge of what life and death are really all about. Heaven and hell are real.
Our souls are real!!!!! Eternity is real!!! Whether people choose to believe this or not, does not change the reality of it. He asked because we are responsible for each other’s souls!!!!!!
The next day I shared this with all of my students and each class offered many prayers. It was an incredible reminder of God’s love and mercy and judgement, life and death. Our prayers interceded for the person passing away and the person who asked for the prayers. We did not use names because God knew exactly whom we were praying for. A few days later I received a message that the person dying wanted to see a priest. “Praise the Lord”!!! Within hours it was made possible a priest would visit the person before they would pass away. I shared the wonderful news with the all students, how their prayers and interceding can move mountains and save souls!!! It was incredible and awesome news. The person has passed away. I can only hope and pray when it is my time to pass away.. that someone has that much concern for my soul!!! Our souls, eternity, heaven and hell are real, not only our death but our lives need to clearly reflect this as well. So grateful for the incredible people the Lord puts in my life, to show what true love looks like.”
I Found God today in my friend’s story of love, life, and lessons.
Still Finding God 