Grateful for a Missionary Right Here in My Own Town

Looking forward to a cup of coffee... and so much more.

I have a very special friend, Jennifer, and she is coming over for a visit shortly. It is amazing how in a short time God can knit your heart with someone.

As my husband, Bob, was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery, Jennifer first appeared. “Just came by to check on you guys,” she would say, and my heart would sing, “Thank-you, thank-you.” Jennifer has a master’s degree in exercisology and works with heart patients. Her kindness and her laugh, along with her expertise, brought us much comfort and joy in those “hospital days.”

Jennifer is leaving soon on a mission trip. I know it will be a wonderful time for her and for those she ministers too. I know that because she was a missionary right in her own hometown, right in the midst of an ordinary day, just being Jennifer, God used her in our lives… and we will always be grateful for her gift of friendship.

If we would all be missionaries in the everyday, this world would be a better place!

Things Missing, Precious Prayers, and Things Found

It’s so cold in Fairhope today, though I dare not complain when my son’s family in West Point, NY, have been and still are dealing with 3-4 feet of snow on the ground! YIKES! It can get really gray up there in the winter months! So, I am grateful for heaters, warm clothes, and cozy blankets... and also hot coffee and tea!

I had lost a library book. I hunted high and low for it and then finally realized I probably left it somewhere. But as I have searched for it, my 6 year-old granddaughter’s words from Christmas vacation have been ringing in my ears.

We had lost the DVD to Toy Story 3, and we had been planning on watching it all day long. All seven of us were looking for it everywhere and were guessing that our 20 month-old little busy, busy boy had stashed it away... and he wasn’t talking.

I heard Natalie’s voice call out, “O Lord God in the highest, PLEASE help us find the DVD!”

Of course, lots of laughter from her prayers ensued, and soon afterwards the DVD was found inside a little riding toy belonging to the 20 month-old... and it was found by his 4 year-old sister.

I am grateful that she was serious about her little prayer. It reminds me to simply stop and ask the One on High!

Good news, the library book was found at a friend’s house. It was given to another friend to return to me, someone that I have wanted to connect with and we did. And now the book is safely home at the library.

So... I'm not sweating the small stuff and not missing the goody in it all!

My Kitchen Counter

I smile to myself as I think about a conversation I heard over the holidays one early morning between Amelia (Mia) age 4 and Bob (Big B) 60, while they were sitting at the kitchen counter. It was just a few days after our youngest son, Stuart, announced his engagement to Ashley. Mia and her sister, Natalie, had just been asked to be flower girls in their upcoming June wedding. Mia was so excited, and just waking up -- still a little early morning dreamy -- she said to Big B, “You know, Big B, I gonna be a flower in the wedding and toss petals too…… and you, Big B, YOU are gonna be a handsome prince, so you need to be sure and show up in your best costume.” How adorable! Big B and I laughed, and I thought to myself, “This is going to be so much fun!” Glimpses of a wedding through the flower girls eyes!

For the simple joys of loving life, I am grateful. Conversations around our kitchen counter always encourage me to ponder and consider different perspectives of life. I would say most of the “Kitchen Counter Therapy” at our house is easy, fun, and insightful. Occasionally, there is that difficult conversation, challenging everyone not to react, but to prayerfully listen, respond with respect, and consider needed changes to the challenges of the day. But the early morning kitchen encounters at the counter can easily set the tone for the day and of course laughter is always the best medicine!

For my kitchen counter… I am grateful!