A Real Story!

Here is a "God story" I hope you enjoy:  A good friend of mine just shared something with me and thinks it would make a good post. I agree.  She was volunteering this a.m. and was thrown a curve ball.  She fought her mouth, wanting to say something curt, inappropriate and/or not very nice. 

I think we have all been in a spot like this.  However, she held her tongue but some of the curve balls kept coming. Her straight line plans went crooked quickly!  Then, on the other end of her trails, the gift in it all became clear when she ran into a dear acquaintance; both were very surprised to see the other.

Looking back it would have been disastrous had she succumbed to her thoughts and let them rule her mouth, having the speaker on her phone for all to hear!!

It's true, each of us fight negative thoughts and at times it's so hard not to give in to them.  However, the more we practice doing the next right thing, whether in word or deed , we may just be rewarded with the "gift" on the other end. This is another "God story" that can happen to each of us if we practice not acting on everything that comes into our brain!  You may have a friend to thank, too, for sharing a good post with you!  Thank you!

Courtesy of Pixabay

One Candle

One candle is all it takes. On my way home today my next door neighbor was outside on her porch, so I pulled over to visit a few minutes. There were a couple things I wanted to share with her and she updated me on things in her life, too.

Have you ever thought to yourself that after listening to someone else's journey you'll just stick with your own stuff. Too often it is hard to have a grateful heart or a sense of positivity about what we are going through but after she shared things I said, "you know, we certainly learn a whole lot of wisdom from the journey of life that we go through."  She agreed. No school books could teach us what we learn in "The School of Hard Knocks."

I just read a reflection from the Christophers about having a sense of positivity in all that comes our way.  That is a wonderful reminder that no matter what we go through we should use our God-given talents to make a positive difference in the world. Their motto is "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

Have you ever noticed that whenever you call someone or talk with a person that they light your own day in some way.  So true, also, we can help that other person in their day.  Perhaps we are adding some light in their day, too!  It only takes one candle! Let your light shine on! 

Courtesy of Pixabay

Last Laugh

Well, God got the last laugh with me today!  Not that anything was funny at all. Here's what happened.

Just about every day I make a list of things I plan to do that day.  Some days I let others in on my plans...and of course, I'm sure God listens as I say these things.  Today was no different. 

Well, the day started out as planned, and to say the least it was going pretty good, until about 9:00 a.m. when I saw several former cohorts from the hospital. I have been waiting for information on a funeral that was pending from someone we mutually know and they informed me "it's this afternoon...."

Oh, my, that certainly wasn't in my "wheelhouse." I had other plans with a pending deadline in four days. Good thing I couldn't sleep last night and worked on it then.  

OK, so, because of Covid, after much pondering, I was hesitant to be among a tight crowd so decided to just catch up with the family at the place of the dinner, instead of the tight quarters inside the funeral home. 

All dressed, just ready to put on my coat, I saw I had missed two phone calls from the same number and listening to the voicemail, returned the call immediately.  Good thing.

One of my very good friends died this a.m. of Covid!! (Yes, she had vaccines but was immunocompro
mised.) And it was said aloud there "is a large spike, worse than ever" in this area! 

Right now, that makes three very close friends who have been fighting Covid.  Thinking twice, I decided not to go to any funeral gathering and with great sadness will explain that to the family of the deceased. I am sad to have missed it but so very grateful thinking a divine spirit, or the angels, kept me safe with situations today.

It's OK if God had the last laugh with me today, thinking I was in charge of my schedule. A good friend's death, another friend's funeral, a spike in Covid worse than before...I'll accept the reality that something, bigger than me, kept me safe from large, tight crowds today.  I guess a laugh can come even when nothing is funny! Better to be safe than sorry.

Courtesy of Pixabay

A Pretzel

I just returned from a visit at the hospital with my husband...a consultation for nothing major. As we were leaving, a long-time employee and a friend of hers, came out of the gift shop to visit with me. Her friend reintroduced herself to me, having met her many years ago.

She shared memories of when her husband died, had run into me in the hallway there and said I shared a pretzel with her. This was many, many, many years ago!!! To think, a pretzel. She said she could "taste" that pretzel now, as she told me these details. To think, a pretzel!!

In fact, my friend shared something I had said as we often sat at the same table in the cafeteria.  It was a word I often used as a kid when I was afraid..."ascared." We both laughed remembering that conversation! 

Isn't it amazing how one word, one gesture is enough fodder to be recalled so many years later?  I am very thankful these were positive memories because there certainly are enough negative ones I remember, much to my chagrin!

I wonder if the angels in heaven didn't surround me with these two godsends today, knowing the pick-me-up would do me good. I walked away simply amazed thinking to myself "how in the world could I have known then what an impact such a small gesture could make this many years later!"

Just imagine, sharing with someone in the throws of having lost her husband what one pretzel could do!  (Wonder what the whole bag would have done!!) I'm sure there will be a next time with someone!

Courtesy of Pixabay