What is your Story?
I met a woman yesterday
who was filled with such peace
even though
she lives her days
in a wheelchair
in a nursing home.
This same women
who was eating all alone
offered the extra seat at her table
to my husband & I,
who were standing at the
table where my mother-in-law sat.
Every other table was filled with the residents,
but not hers & I wondered why.
It broke my heart
to see her by herself,
yet it didn't seem to bother her.
I went over to thank her
and to ask her her name.
She has a name~
Regina
but
she likes to be called
Jean.
She smiled from the bottom of her heart
and a peace washed over my soul.
There was something different about her,
as she was so present in the moment
and I wondered why she was even there.
And then
I heard it~
the music that was playing in the background~
the songs that I play in my home~
the artists who sing songs of hope and joy~
contemporary praise music~
playing in the background~
in this nursing home
as the residents ate.
God is in this place
hugging my mother-in-law
hugging all of the resident's
who may not even know what was playing.
A peace washed over my soul
as I looked up
because
He was there.
And then it only got better.
As Jean was leaving the room
I went up to her
and then it happened...again.
Our eyes and our hearts met
the moment I said,
"It was so nice to meet you"
and the conversation began.
A conversation
that God knew would take place.
She told me her story.~
she has 2 adult children who live out of state
&
a daughter who had a tragic accident,
yet has overcome it...
and then in April
this same daughter's husband
died suddenly at the age of 42.
And then she said it.~
"When it is your time for you to go home
the Good Lord will take you.
and we have no control over it.
It doesn't matter how much money you have
or how powerful you are
we are all going home
when God calls.
This woman
who ate all alone
who is in a wheelchair
has the peace of God that transcends all understanding
because she knows
the God of peace.
As I went back to the table
where my mother-in-law and husband were sitting
I looked at him
and said it is all going to be okay~
even though his mother may not know us
as she sits also in a wheelchair
not looking like herself~
God knows her.
God knows her name
and
God is right there with her
and me
and everyone else
whether we feel Him or not.
I think maybe
that
Jean
whose peace was overwhelming
was an angel
who God sent to
remind me
that
in this life we are just passing through
and it is all about
how we living out our days
as we are passing through~
no matter what our circumstances
no matter what we have or don't have
no matter what our age~
if only we all just look up to the
One
who tells us
it is all going to better than okay~
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
We all have a story
We all have a name,
even if we eat all alone.
We all have a story
even if no one ever asks us to share it.
But we all have a
Real God
who always shows up in our story
wherever we are.
Thank you God.
Thank you Jean.
Where is God in the midst of your story?
If you just look up you will find Him.