Following His Leading

Wednesdays are lovely days in my home.
That is the day the women come for Bible study.
Some of us have been studying the Bible together for years.
New women join us each year, which is such a blessing.

Bible study is from 9;30-11:00 in the morning.
Women come earlier to talk to each other before we begin.
Sometimes, a few women will linger after Bible study to talk in my kitchen.
This past week two women stayed, so I made some lunch for us.

It was lovely to sit and talk together.
Two of us are grandmothers.
The other woman has two school age children.
I have watched them grow through the years.

What is so lovely about this group, is the fact that the women pray for each other.
It is a safe place for women to share their prayer requests.
Those requests are sent in an email to the group.
Then, when we meet for Bible study, we get an update and learn how we can continue to pray.

The women are trustworthy.
What is shared with the group stays in the group.
We have seen God answer prayer abundantly.
It is a group of women that may never have known each other except for the Lord.

We finished our impromptu lunch.
The younger woman was talking.
Since she has school age children, there are always things to say.
She began to tell us a story.

We prayed for her father-in-law as he battled cancer.
We prayed through the ups and down of that insidious disease.
Right before Christmas, her father-in-law died.
It was hard on her and her husband, and their two children.

During the illness, there was much back and forth travel.
Her husband wanted to be with his father.
Her husband wanted to help his mother.
The hour and a half drive took its toll after a while.

This sweet woman knew that her husband needed to be with his parents.
She took care of things at home, so her husband could be where he needed to be.
I was proud of her and told her so.
It was a difficult time for everyone.

Towards the end of his illness, her in-laws celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
There were pictures of them in the room that had been his sick room for quite some time.
This day, he looked so happy as they had a special dinner of things they both enjoyed.
For that one night, all restrictions were removed.

It was a bittersweet celebration.
Memories were made.
My friend’s children, have this special picture of their grandparents.
For one precious evening,  the sickness was put on a back burner and life was celebrated.

Towards the end of her father-in-law’s illness, a hospice nurse came to the house.
The nurse was wonderful, as she tenderly cared for my friend’s father-in-law.
Her husband spent many long hours sitting by his father’s bedside.
Her husband spent many afternoons helping his mom with things she would have to do herself.

It was on one of those long afternoons that her husband decided to make something.
It was something his father had shown him when he was a boy.
He found some white paper and began cutting.
It was like riding a bike; he cut with precision.

After a snip here and a snip there, he looked at his work.
He had remembered all his father taught him.
On the table in front of him, he had cut eight, perfect, paper snowflakes.
He was delighted that he remembered how to make them.

After the death of his father, the family received a Christmas card from the hospice nurse.
He noticed that she had put her return address on the envelope.
He and his wife and two children were driving home from his parent’s house.
I’ve been thinking about Dad’s nurse, he said as he drove.

We have to pass the area where she lives on our way home, he continued.
I would like to stop and visit her, he told his wife.
OK, let’s do it, she wholeheartedly agreed.
They drove a tiny bit out of their way to get to the nurse’s home.

She wondered what the nurse would think as she saw them at her door.
She wondered if it was even appropriate, but her husband was so sure.
They found her house.
The four of them got out of the car and walked up to the front door.

When the nurse answered, she seemed so glad to see them.
Come in, come in, she said as all four of them walked into her house.
They could sense something in her demeanor.
Are you all right? They asked her.

No, I am not, she began.
My mother died this morning and I have been sitting here by myself, she told them.
I am waiting for family to arrive but until they do, I am all alone, she said with tears.
I have something for you, my friend’s husband said.

He went out to the car and came back inside.
He handed his gift to the nurse.
There was something white in his hand.
I made these for you, he said as he handed the nurse the eight paper snowflakes.

Through tears of joy, the nurse held the perfect snowflakes gently in her hand.
Thank you, the nurse said and meant it most sincerely.
My father taught me how to make these when I was a boy, he told her.
It was the perfect gift.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,  “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).  Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:5-13)

The little boy gave his lunch away.
In Jesus’ hands, his meager lunch fed over 5,000 people.
Our little bit is multiplied greatly when we trust Jesus with the outcome.
Eight paper snowflakes were the perfect gift for the nurse that cared so tenderly for his father.

Our gifts do not have to be extravagant.
We just have to be willing to give them.
We have to be willing to put our gifts in Jesus’ hands.
Jesus will do with them what He chooses.

My friend’s husband followed the Lord’s leading.
What if he had dismissed the Lord’s prompting?
What if he rationalized it away, deeming it to0 ridiculous to follow.
The nurse would have sat alone in her grief, never having the pleasure of eight paper snowflakes.

 

2 responses to “Following His Leading”

1. It is so amazing to me when we hear the prompting of the Lord and then we respond not only is the person the Lord leads us to is blessed. We too are blessed beyond what we could even begin to ask or think.
   Thanks Gina.
   Carol

   Reply

   • That is so true, Carol.
     I am always amazed at the perfect timing of the Lord.
     Oh, that we may have ears to listen and a heart to respond.
     Gina

     Reply