I searched the garden center for my Red and white begonias, the Colors I plant every year along My sidewalk. I loaded the flowers onto a wagon, but Needed a second cart for bags of soil. As I tried to maneuver them through the Check out, a young gal in line behind me Rushed over to help. With a sweet smile she insisted on Pulling one of my wagons to the car and even Lifted the plants and bags of top soil Into the trunk. I profusely thanked her. She responded, "God bless you." I knew it! It wasn't just my gray hair and wrinkles that Caused her to assist me. "You're a believer, aren't you?" "Yes," she said. "I try to share the love of Christ with everyone." The teenager and I held a praise party right there In Lowe's parking lot. What a delightful turn of events! I was Chelsea's divine appointment for the day! |
0 Comments
There are dull days when the
Grayness outside seems to seep inside to The depths of my soul. Depressing days when it takes effort just To get dressed, To do my devotions, To buy a few groceries and push the Garbage can into the garage. Hard to describe days, Wondering what's wrong, but just Pushing on, doing my normal tasks Regardless of my slump. Knowing Jesus is just as close to me on This down day as He is when I'm on Top of the world, If possible, even closer. It's called "Gotcha Day."
It's the day my granddaughter was Adopted into our family. Today it fell on Mother's Day. How perfect is that! When her parents traveled to China to Claim Lia as their own, she became Mine too. I wish her birth mother could know that Her hard decision was the right one. I wish she could know the beautiful young Woman her baby has become. I wish she could know how much we Treasure her priceless gift to us. I wish I could thank her. I wish she could know. On Mother's Day I always think of Mom.
I'll never work as hard as she did, raising Chickens, a huge garden, five rowdy boys, And one single, sweet girl. :) She was canning, freezing, quilting, cooking, Working non-stop on the farm except for Sundays; and even then she cooked a Feast for dinner after church. She prayed with me at bedtime and taught Me by her example during the day. My mother wasn't perfect, but I Easily forget her flaws and just Remember her love. I hope my girls will be able to do the Same for me.
The wisp of a nurse was giving my
Daughter final instructions before she Could go home after her angiogram. The gal was professional, Matter of fact, All business. I was tempted to stay in my shell too. I was tired. But instead, I asked her one simple Question. "Do you have a family?" And immediately she poured out the Difficult details of her blended one: A cranky daughter moving back home. A step-daughter getting married. A special needs brother-in-law following her Every movement around the house. Conflict. I listened, nodded, commended her for Her commitment to them all. I shared "Love covers a multitude of sins."* She thanked me as she moved on to her Next patient. Sometimes a divine appointment is just Giving a burdened gal a chance to ventilate. *I Peter 4:8 I could sense, when her husband first
Died, that she was running on adrenaline, Her smile, Her stamina, Her staunch faith. I didn't want to discourage her, but I gently told her, "Don't be surprised if in a few months the Sorrow really kicks in." I saw her today, tears streaming down Her cheeks. "You were right," she said. I wish it weren't true, but I've discovered that in grief, it Always get worse before it Gets better. It was Monday morning.
I wanted to eat my oatmeal with walnuts and Blackberries at home in my pajamas, not Get dressed and go to Tim Horton's. But I couldn't escape the nagging. "Okay, God, I'll go. Even if I'm misreading Your thoughts, I'll go." But I grumbled as I pulled the car out of The garage. For awhile the restaurant was empty as I ate My egg white sandwich and read the paper. But when a lady walked in with a child and Sat near me, I realized, because of the sweet Conversation between them, that she was a Grandma. Yes, I was eavesdropping. I didn't want to disturb them, but when I heard the older tell the younger that she Had been a preschool teacher, I had no choice. I walked over, introduced myself, and Told her I had been one too. It took us only moments to discover we Were sisters in Jesus, that her little grandson was Being treated at "Children's" for spina bifida while She was watching his sister Megan. We rejoiced at God's goodness, how He uses our Trials to make us stronger. We were astonished to find that when she lived in California she had attended Pastor Dave's church, The very man who had been the first pastor of Mine here in Columbus. I told my new friend how I had felt compelled to come To Tim Horton's this morning, and she was grateful that I had obeyed. We exchanged phone numbers and hugs. When we said good-by, Mary and I felt like Family, and indeed, we were.
|
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
December 2020
Categories
All
|