January 29, 2010
Exodus 23:20 - "I will send an angel ahead of you." God promised to protect them, lead them, fight for them, and to give them victory. Their job (and ours) is to listen carefully and obey.
Exodus 23:20 - "I will send an angel ahead of you." God promised to protect them, lead them, fight for them, and to give them victory. Their job (and ours) is to listen carefully and obey.
Jane! How else can you describe Jane but as an angel?
Her Name Was Jane!
On a windy and rainy January evening, and into the early morning hours of the next day, my safe and comfortable world as I knew it came crashing down around me. I was shaken to the very core of my being. Everything I knew to be truth vanished before my very eyes.
When the long sleepless night finally ended, and the dawn of a new day came, I knew I had to GO and DO something for someone else. I knew I had to get my mind off of the upsetting events of the night before. But where would I go and what would I do? I decided to go visit with the residents at the nursing home my husband and I went to on Christmas mornings.
When the long sleepless night finally ended, and the dawn of a new day came, I knew I had to GO and DO something for someone else. I knew I had to get my mind off of the upsetting events of the night before. But where would I go and what would I do? I decided to go visit with the residents at the nursing home my husband and I went to on Christmas mornings.
I looked a mess. My eyes were swollen from crying and my sleepless night. I felt battered and bruised from the sudden storm which took my husband and I by surprise. I wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out, but I knew I had to GO and DO. So I got in the shower to get ready. My tears mixed with the water and freely flowed down my face. Through my sobs and tears I realized a song was running through my mind, but I couldn't place the song or the words. I stopped what I was doing and stood still so I could listen to the melody of the song playing so clearly in my mind. And then—the words of the song became clear. I literally heard it. "He knows your name, He knows your every thought. He knows each tear that falls and hears you when you call." Listen to it here. I had just been stripped of everything I knew to be truth, and I felt very vulnerable and alone. God was letting me know that HE knows my name; HE knows my every thought; HE knows each tear that falls; and HE hears me when I call. At that moment I knew—I am not alone. HE is with me.
More tears flowed. This time they were tears of gratitude for my Savior's love.
More tears flowed. This time they were tears of gratitude for my Savior's love.
I got dressed and drove to the nursing home. It was a Friday morning. I'd never been there during a normal work week before. I was just going to walk in but the woman at the front desk stopped me and asked me if she could help me. I told her that I was just there to spend some time with the residents. She asked me to wait so I could speak with the Activity Director. I thought to myself—why can't I just walk the halls and rooms and visit with the people myself? I've been coming here for years!! I stood there and waited ... irritated that I wasn't being allowed to walk the halls.
The Activity Director finally came. She introduced herself and we sat down at a table in the far corner of the cafeteria. She asked me why I was there. The tears began to flow again. I told her that I knew I looked a mess, but that I had just come through a very traumatic time, and I felt I needed to get out and do something for someone else. Our personalities instantly connected and we freely talked together about life, faith, and God. After time passed she said, "Let's see where the Holy Spirit leads us."
God was putting HIS plan in place. Unbeknownst to me, the Activity Director was going to be an integral part in accomplishing HIS plan ... and I was irritated at having to wait. Forgive me Lord. I am so grateful you made me wait. Thank you for being patient with me while I learn what it means to follow your footpath.
We began to walk the halls together. We went down a hallway in a wing that in all the years my husband and I had been going to the nursing home, we had never went down. We went into one room and chatted with the lady for awhile, but she was very grumpy and didn't want visitors. The Activity Director led me out of that patient's room and we walked on down the hallway a little farther. She stopped and said, "Now here is a godly woman, her name is Jane. She doesn't have any family in the area."
The Activity Director finally came. She introduced herself and we sat down at a table in the far corner of the cafeteria. She asked me why I was there. The tears began to flow again. I told her that I knew I looked a mess, but that I had just come through a very traumatic time, and I felt I needed to get out and do something for someone else. Our personalities instantly connected and we freely talked together about life, faith, and God. After time passed she said, "Let's see where the Holy Spirit leads us."
God was putting HIS plan in place. Unbeknownst to me, the Activity Director was going to be an integral part in accomplishing HIS plan ... and I was irritated at having to wait. Forgive me Lord. I am so grateful you made me wait. Thank you for being patient with me while I learn what it means to follow your footpath.
We began to walk the halls together. We went down a hallway in a wing that in all the years my husband and I had been going to the nursing home, we had never went down. We went into one room and chatted with the lady for awhile, but she was very grumpy and didn't want visitors. The Activity Director led me out of that patient's room and we walked on down the hallway a little farther. She stopped and said, "Now here is a godly woman, her name is Jane. She doesn't have any family in the area."
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