Category Archives: Holidays

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The Note Said, “From An Old Friend”

The other day when I came out of Walgreens I noticed a note on my car underneath its windshield wiper blades. The note said,

Hi Norma,

From an old Friend.

(Smiley Face)

I was mystified. I hadn’t seen anybody. I studied the letters in the note, trying to figure out the writer of the note by the way the letters were formed. The writing looked like a friend’s writing, but she lives over in Clear Lake, almost three hours away. I guess I won’t know who it was that wrote it unless he or she reads this post!

But I’m glad they left a note. At least it engaged me in life for a moment.

Count your many blessings–

Blessings come throughout the day. We see them when we look for them. Count your many blessings is good way to live life. Look up. Today is a beautiful day. That’s one blessing.

Blessings are like gifts that give to us. Many blessings are unnoticed in the daily grind, but the blessings are there regardless of the attention we give them. Blessings are in the little (and big) graces.

Can’t sleep at night? Begin counting the good things from the day. Was it a word, smile, donut, or a gourmet coffee? Did a person help you or smile at you? Did you see a crimson rose? What was it that someone said to you?

I couldn’t figure out who sent me the bouquet–

Soon after my divorce a bouquet was delivered to my house but there was no indication of who had sent it. I enjoyed the spring arrangement, but I couldn’t figure out who was its sender. It was a mystery. A couple of years later a male friend acknowledged that he’d sent the mysterious bouquet to cheer me up. I never would have guessed in a million years that he was the sender.

People love us; that counts. Food is in the pantry; that counts. We have clothes and shoes to wear; that counts. God loves us; that counts. We learn something new; that counts, too. Blessings are all around us, even when we are feeling down, troubled, or anxious.

I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”

Helen Keller

Helen Keller had a reason for grumbling. Instead, she chose to embrace what she possessed. Although both blind and deaf, she had an eager, keen mind. After she made sense of her world through her teacher, she lived a full life of discovery and knowledge. She taught the world how to not feel sorry for itself. She quoted, “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” She understood the essence of living without pity, without pitying your circumstances or self. She recognized what she possessed and considered it enough.

We discover a hidden blessedness in blessings. A cup of tea is a blessing. A hug from a friend is a blessing. A comforting thought is a blessing. An unexpected gift is a blessing. A piece of fudge is a blessing. Shelter, food, and clothing, the bare essentials for living, are blessings. We should give thanks to God for blessings that we tend to take for granted.

Blessings may seem small when we live in dangerous places or in trying circumstances. God’s the Keeper. He cares. God says that He sends rain on the just and unjust. He sends sunshine to all of us. Sunshine radiates blessings. When the sunshine seems hidden behind the cloud, we still learn, grown, and change through the trouble. We learn to trust and depend on God to meet us in every trial that comes our way; and that’s not so bad.

A close relative of mine has spent most of last year dealing with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The medical treatment has drained her, and it’s been challenging. But every time I talk to her she shares what God is teaching her. He’s given her verses to cling to, that encourage her on this cancer journey. Her spirit is strengthened by attending to what God has for her. She is more alive in her spirit through the Spirit’s enlivening.

On this New Year’s day, I encourage you to be blessed by your blessings. Your blessings will cheer you up. You will be ready to start the new year afresh. Those of us dealing with something difficult can say that we are blessed even by the circumstance of our trial. God brings good out of the difficult, as only He can.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Johnson Oatman, 1897

Yesterday I was with my sister’s family. Her grandchildren were also present. I was blessed by their presence. Children are one of the blessings from God. The littlest one is under a year. He is a keeper; so sweet you can’t quite get enough of the sweetness. I was blessed and cheered (and I needed some cheering up).

Love to you all. I am thankful for you and your friendship. Keep smiling and count your blessings. (I’m listening to the neighborhood firecrackers as I write this.)

Have a blessed New Year!

Name a blessing that you are thankful for in the comments, and bless us one and all. . .

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Ministering Messengers of the Divine

Good Will to Man

I love the Christmas Carols. I like the secular and the sacred Christmas songs. I love hearing them, singing them, and saying their lyrics. My Grandma Weigold had sheet music of Christmas songs on her piano. I loved singing as I played them. That’s where I learned “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack frost nipping at your nose.”‘

A few years ago I thought that Christmas was going to be a thing of the past. Happy Holidays was in vogue and competing for dominance. I remember thinking that it would be a shame for generations of children to not know the cheery greeting of “Merry Christmas” and was sad to think people would shamed from saying it in greeting.

I don’t have a problem with Happy Holidays, that’s not it. It’s just that people should be given the freedom to say which ever greeting they wish to say. I tend to skip the Santa stuff, and that’s my prerogative.

So, I’m going to share a little story. It was told to me in 2014 by someone I met. First, a little about her. She was a concierge at an elder care facility. She said that the employees at the facility were told to not greet visitors with “Merry Christmas” unless the visitor greeted them first with a “Merry Christmas.” We talked on Sundays when I came by to visit my aunt. She shared the following story with me.

Here is the story that she told me with my reflection concerning it.

. . .

MINISTERING “ANGELS”

Her smile is beautiful.

Some people go through life like angels on a mission. They show up where God leads them and say what He gives them. They march to a different drummer, one that is known only by them.

These ministering people are like angels among us. Their lives are filled to the max with divine appointments arranged by God. Every day is an adventure for these lovely giving people.

I talked with one such ministering angel. She volunteers in a hospital ward where there is much pain and suffering — where there is dying — where one goes at the final stage of life’s journey.

This dear woman starts her volunteer shift by asking God to lead her to whoever needs comfort and to guide her to say the right words. She does not plan this out. She leaves that to the Master Designer.

Some evenings the people she visits are nearing death. She says her name and that she is with them. She chats about this and that; kind, gentle talk. Her presence comforts. While she visits, she prays silently for the patient.

Each divine appointment is precious for those who, like her, are responsive to the prompting of the Spirit. Their lives have unusual encounters and astounding occurrences orchestrated by God. Sometimes the conversations she has with the patients are meaningful.

Last night’s chance meeting with this woman of faith made me realize something I had not thought of before. She lives in the “eternal” spiritual realm more than in this present earthly realm. Her steps are ordered by God.

Angels minister in the quiet places.

. . .

NO RESPONSE

The patient had arrived earlier in the day.

The woman’s body lay completely still. Her eyes stared forward. The bed sheets were smooth. The woman had not moved, tossed, nor turned. She appeared as if death had already claimed her spirit, but for her shallow breathing.

The volunteer, the ministering angel, entered the woman’s hospital room. She sat on the chair next to the bed. The woman gave no indication of any awareness of the volunteer’s presence. Nothing.

The volunteer’s fingers lightly touched the apparently dying woman’s arm. “My name is ‘Suzie.’ I’m going to sit with you for a few minutes.” She removed her hand. Suzie then made light comfort-type conversation.

Suzie sat there a while in silence and then touched the woman’s arm again. She spoke quietly to the patient, “I’m going to leave now. I want you to know I’m praying for you. I’ll stop by to see you again before I leave.”

Suzie completed the rounds and then she returned once more to sit next to the woman. Nothing had changed. The woman still had not stirred. There was no indication of any awareness of Suzie’s presence.

. . .

“J-E-S-U-S”

Again, Suzie touched the unresponsive woman’s arm.

“It’s Suzie. I’m back with you now. I’m going to sit here for a little while longer. I want you to know that I’m praying for you.” She sensed God wanted her there as a comforter. She continued to pray in the silence.

Then suddenly, the woman sat up and raised both arms. She looked up at the ceiling. With her arms reaching up, the woman expressively spoke a single elongated word, “J-e-s-u-s.”

Then the woman lay back down, her body still, her eyes closed. Shallow breathing was the only indication that she was still in the present. Shivers coursed through Suzie at what she had just witnessed.

Suzie was stirred by what she had seen. She thought of what the woman had just said, “J-e-s-u-s.” Suzie prayed; said goodbye; and then she left. She wondered what the morrow would bring.

The following evening Suzie returned to volunteer again. The woman was not there. Suzie inquired about her. The evening before, soon after Suzie had left, the woman’s earthly journey had come to a close.

And that gives me a shiver.

. . .