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.