Today my mom’s friend came over for their usual weekly visit. My mom had a valentine all ready for her. Her husband passed away a couple of years ago. She told us that her daughter bought her a box of chocolates just like her husband used to. Her daughter was making sure that she was keeping up the traditions that her father was doing for her mother. I thought that was so loving.
I Found God today in a loving daughter.
A few months ago, my dad, my sister and I went out to purchase a new bed for my mom that would be in place when she came home from a hospital and rehab stay. We wanted a bed that would be easy for her to get in and out of and that would be very comfortable for her as she continued to recover. Many times, when one of my parents is going through a rough time physically, one of them would sleep in the bed and one of them would sleep on the sofa so as not to disturb the other. This typically meant that if they shared the bed, neither one slept well and if one was on the sofa, neither one slept well. For my mom, we decided on a twin bed with a platform that raises the head and/or the feet. Right before she was to come home, we got a call from the bed store that the mattress we ordered was not in stock. My dad talked with them and explained the situation. They very generously brought a different mattress – one of their best – and said my mom could try it out. She came home, tried out the bed, and loved it. We ended up keeping the upgraded mattress and paying only a small price difference as the manager was super helpful. Since then, my mom has continued to enjoy the bed, but this has left my parents separated. They talked about options and today decided to go back to the bed store and get a new bed for my dad too. He got the same kind so they can put them side by side and be together again. As I thought about this, the original mattress being out of stock was really a blessing. We didn’t think so at the time, because it caused us undue anxiety. However, we found out today that the store no longer carries that mattress. It would have been impossible for my dad to get the same one and the two beds would not have matched up if they put them together. This way, my dad was able to purchase the exact same mattress and they should fit perfectly side by side. That will be wonderful.
I Found God today in a blessing in disguise.
My friends in the Northeast have been hit with one snowstorm after another. As they prepared for their current storm, I have been keeping up with what is happening via social media. Several people were outside playing before it got dark. There were conversations about going to the grocery and not being able to find the needed ingredients or food as so many items were sold out. They baked and cooked. I empathized witht them all. Part of me was missing the excitement – but not the shoveling part. I thought about what I would be doing and talked with people about their plans. I enjoyed this connection and praying for everyone’s safety and well being.
I Found God today connecting with far away friends.
Today was my mom’s last day of taking the antibiotics for the recent bout of diverticulitis. She has done so well, she hasn’t even been as nauseous as in the past. She even felt good enough to go to the Parkinson’s support and to church. Today is also the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. My mom, dad, and I have said a novena for the past nine days especially that my mom would get better and not have to go to the hospital. We are grateful that has happened.
I Found God today in answered prayers for my mom’s wellness.
I ran a few errands today that took me by the church. I made my way inside the chapel and exhaled. I spent a few quiet minutes there breathing, praying, listening, being. Sometimes I am so busy being busy that I forget I need to stop. There is so much distraction in the world, but when I stop, quiet myself and talk with God, I truly feel His presence. It was so peaceful – literally a few minutes of Heaven.
I Found God today in church.
A friend who works at a church read my blog yesterday and replied. She told about how she is also going to physical therapy and she also told her therapist about her job in the church. He responded by telling her about his conversion story. It is truly amazing to me what similar paths so many of us are on as we travel through life. We each have so much to share with and learn from one another. And when we open up with people about our faith and relationship with God, we encourage others who then in turn encourage us. Who knows where that will lead. You can read her full comment and story here.
I Found God today in a similar story about sharing faith friend far away.
Last year I hurt my hip and was in physical therapy for a couple of months. I made a pretty good run of it on my own since then exercising, stretching, and walking as much as I can. However, recently the hip started hurting again including sciatica. I did what I knew to try to relieve it with no progress, so I started back in physical therapy again. I went to a different place from the first and was somewhat surprised at the differences. The previous place was huge and had lots of different people who would work on me. The new place is very small so you are only working with a couple of people. At the previous place, they had lots of contraptions to torture – I mean rehabilitate you. This place seems to be a little more personal and hands on. Most good therapists get you talking while they proceed to manipulate the affected area to get your mind off what they are doing to you. The same held true for the new people. The other day, I was talking with a guy and told him I used to work in youth ministry. He remembered that and brought it up today. He asked what church I went to now and I told him. He knew of the church and said his sister used to attend when she lived in the area. Then he told me all about the church that he and his wife go to that was started by a group of nuns. They built a chapel on the grounds of their community and when people started attending Mass there, it expanded and became a parish. There is also a nursing home on the site. The young man told me how he loves going there and seeing the nuns. He has a 1 1/2 year old daughter and they all love seeing her too. It was such an uplifting conversation right there in the middle of this little place. I thought it was fairly brave of him.
I Found God today in an uplifting conversation about the value of church.
The weather forecast for today was unusually warm with strong winds. I went out and about this morning and when I returned home, the sun was shining warm and the wind was only a breeze. My mom had sat outside for a while, but had not taken a walk. We try to get out every day that the weather permits, but we both hate the wind. I told my mom that we needed to get out quickly before the wind picked up. I put a pot of soup on the stove for lunch and we headed outside for a walk. It was gorgeous. We enjoyed the feeling of the warm sun shining on us. My mom even had enough energy to take the “long route”. Once we reached the front stairs to go back inside, the wind was starting to blow. Moments after we shut the door back in the house, the trees started leaning and we could hear the wind whistling through the screen. My mom and I cheered our victory over the elements. Both my parents were quite impressed with my weather forecasting ability.
I Found God today being able to take my mom out for a beautiful walk with perfect timing.
This morning I read a brief article that included the words of Jesus in John 15:5, “…without me you can do nothing.” During the day I thought of the many times I have relied on God to get me through a rough time, to keep me from doing the wrong thing, to restrain my not so nice tendencies, to move forward with scary decisions. Thinking about these things reminded me how much God loves me and cares for me. It was a welcomed reminder.
I Found God today being reminded of His loving care for me.
Today at church, one of the Scripture readings was from the prophet Isaiah 58:7-10. These words struck my heart, likely due to the friction in the world at this particular point in time. The passage says in part, “…sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn…Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!” I thought about what might happen if we took just this passage seriously? Would it be too bold of us to take God at His Word? What if we took the actions that are told to us here? Would God really be there for us when we need help? Wouldn’t it be a very different world if we put our energy into caring for others rather than being hateful or fearful of them? What if we acted on faith in doing so, allowing God to do His work through us and for us? The words of Isaiah were likely written about 2700 years ago in a land halfway around the world from us. It is interesting that they seemed to be in a similar state as we are right now. But as Scripture continues, there are countless stories of those who took God at His Word, and God did not disappoint. Can we be so bold now?
I Found God today contemplating His Words and promises.
Still Finding God 