Since I've become a coffee person, I've Become a mug person too. I like to have a few special mugs for Each season of the year. I have lots of Christmas ones, many Received as gifts when I taught preschool. But I had just one for spring since I broke the Cup that had birds on it. I've been keeping my eyes open for a Second one, and after dropping off Clothes at the Good Will store I Walked inside. On the shelf I found it, a Pretty ribbed stoneware mug rimmed with A border of spring pansies. And only 50 cents. I'm sitting in my recliner enjoying coffee from My "new" purchase cupping my hands around it Feeling the warmth. I wonder who might have sipped coffee from the Mug in its previous life. They'd be happy to know that their cast off is Bringing such pleasure to its new owner. I suspect that only I, ever introspective, Could squeeze such meaning and delight from A fifty cent hand-me-down from Good Will. |
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Sheila was our server at the
Restaurant, and she said no one Had ever asked her for a prayer Request before. As she stood by our table, she Shared her concerns. Her mother had serious heart issues, and Sheila carried heavy burdens herself that she Couldn't verbalize. "You don't know what your prayers Mean to me. You don't know how Much I needed them today." She was right. We didn't know. But God certainly did. I didn't know Jack when God delivered him
From alcohol. It was many years ago in a hotel room in Chicago. But he often told me how his whole Life was changed. He quit his lucrative job and enrolled in College; a seasoned fifty year old, a Retired from the military man, an On fire for the Lord guy among the Wet behind the ears collegians. One of his former classmates introduced Herself to me tonight after Prayer meeting. "I was in Jack's classes," Debbie said, "And every chance he got he spoke up For the Lord. We young folks were Inspired by his wisdom. He made a Great impression on all of us." Her words impressed me too. I drove home teary eyed just thinking About the impact of Jack's life. He was the real deal in this world of So many phonies. I still deeply miss him, and it brings Solace to my soul to learn how he Touched other lives long before He touched mine. Thinking of angels and how God sends
Them to protect us, I remember how I Earnestly prayed for my Husbands, Min and Jack. God heard me. He answered. He sent His angels, but each time His Instructions were simply, "He's tired. He's struggled long enough. Bring him on home." I was on the interstate heading home,
Holding my speed at the Allowed limit of seventy miles an hour. I looked in my mirror before Pulling into the middle lane, but Somehow failed to notice the car pulling up Beside me until I was in its path. At the last second I saw it and Swerved back into my lane, fearing For a moment that I had sideswiped the mirror. It took several minutes for my Heart to calm down, to understand What had happened, to Stop berating myself for being so Negligent. I thanked God over and over for Sparing me and the other people Around me. I imagine the other driver was Both angry and relieved. I wish I could have apologized. Reflecting on my near miss, I Suspect that an angel was protecting me, Or else one was looking out for the Man in the other car. Either way, we were both covered. And I'm still saying, "Thank You God!" (I shouldn't let my kids read this.) It was just a casual conversation at a
Lady's gathering. I complimented another gal on her shirt, Mentioned it was "my" color, a deep blue, And so hard to find. Today in church the friend handed me a Bag. Inside was a long sleeved shirt in That exact shade of blue, just my size, And brand new. I'm wearing it as I type. Our conversation wasn't a casual one to her. She was listening with her heart, And I'm going to try to develop that kind of Hearing too.
In the journals that Jack wrote early in our
Marriage, his penmanship was strong and Flowing; beautiful, unlike my sloppy style. But as he aged, his writing suffered. It was still legible, but jerky and no Longer in a straight line. Finally, when dementia took hold, Neither of us could interpret his Scribbles. I can look at his notes now and recognize what Stage of life he was in simply by observing His handwriting. Seeing the deterioration was agonizing for Both of us. But today when I looked at the last anniversary Card he gave me, when he was able to Manage only a few random scratches, I was able to read between the lines and Decipher love. I give out lots of my tracts.
So far, no one has turned me down. Not true for my friend. After eating dinner out, she and her Husband left a tract on the table, along With a generous tip. But the waiter wasn't happy. He followed them to the door, and In front of everyone ripped the Pamphlet into pieces, stomped on them And said, "I don't want your religious stuff." Wow! Double wow!! How would I have reacted? I don't have a clue. Would it have been okay to simply say, "God bless you?" After Jack died I needed to get a
New credit card. When I received it, I accidentally failed to Send in my payment before the due date. I called to explain my situation and the Man very kindly discounted my late fee. I was relieved. I didn't deserve to have the fee removed. I was the one at fault, but he extended Grace to me. Grace is a beautiful thing. God showed me grace. I didn't deserve to have Jesus die for me, But He did, so I could live. I don't deserve His forgiving me again and Again when I sin, but He does. I don't deserve His support, or comfort, or Joy, but He floods me with more than I can contain. I don't deserve my earthly blessings, but He Surrounds me with family, friends, food, and A home. I didn't for one moment deserve Jack, but He Treasured me with his love for fourteen years. I don't deserve heaven, but He promises That I will live with Him there. I deserve nothing, But He gives me everything. Because God is my Father and loves me As if I were an only child, He Gives me what I don't deserve. He graces me. It's a beautiful thing. |
Dorothy Kalb Hsu Seitzinger
Writing poetry has helped me process and express my sorrows and joys, my concerns and blessings. "Life is hard, but God is good!" Archives
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