I’d like to tell you about a lady I visited yesterday. She is ninety-five years young. She recently moved into nursing home. She asked one of the workers how many times
she would have to walk around the outside of the building in order to walk a
mile. She said the person told her about
ten. Then she leaned in really close
and whispered, “I walked around twelve just to be sure I walked a mile.” Hahahaha! What a lady! She loves to keep active, even in a nursing
home. As we talked, I saw no anger or
bitterness in her speech or actions. There was only a love for God, a heart of
compassion, and a sense of humor. She has befriended the one "prickly pear" at
the home because as she said, “I have to love her, so she knows Jesus loves her too.” Wow!!! I need to live like that! I want to show that much compassion for those
around me that need Jesus. She loved to
talk about God and what he was teaching her. As we left, I couldn't help thinking to
myself, “If I ever live to be ninety-five I want to be like her.” I want to be closer to God, than I am
now. She could be bitter about where she
is right now in her life. It's what many of us do when we find ourselves in situations that we don't like. Instead she is “seizing the day” and still bringing joy to those around
her. That's what I want to do; seize every day and make it full of joy. So…. If I ever end up in a nursing
home, I’ll be still trying to run, and if I can’t, then I’ll have to settle for
wheel chair races, and Bible studies.
There are tragedy and sadness in everyone's life, No one is exempt. Yet, in the midst of the hurt and pain, God is there. He takes the things that hurt us and make us sad and turns them into things are beautiful. The death of my mother was a tragedy to my dad. However, because of that tragedy, my dad began to see his need for God. In his brokenness, he found a God that could make him whole. God turned his ashes into beauty. My dad, in turn, taught me to love God. I am blessed to know God as my savior because of my dad. God also blessed me with a lovely step-mom Life is harsh at times, and many things are sad, Yet, if we let him, he will take our ashes and make them into a work of art. He delights in making the ash heaps of our life beautiful. When we are broken, God is near, and where there is sorrow, he will turn it into dancing. Thank you, God, F...
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