Hope Said...

The telephone rang; Lisa wondered if I would join her for a walk in the neighborhood.

After a long work day, I hesitated to go, but hope said: "Sure!  Stop by as you wind around the block."

Lisa, Chrystal, Hope (soon to be 4 years old), Casey (the dog) and I met up and began walking.

Hope asked me why the fence posts were pointed;
she walked in open-eyed wonder.

Chrystal (Hope's mother) and Lisa (Hope's aunt) shared with me a story that continues to ring in my soul.

Chrystal and Lisa looked through a book to seek discussion questions for a group of women. 

Hope listened.

Lisa and Chrystal found a question: if you could have any person's heart, without them having to die, whose would you want?  The ladies thought.

Hope said: Jesus.  She wanted the heart of Jesus.

As I pondered this story, I thought: "I want what Hope said; I want the heart of Jesus."

Jesus did have to die for me, for us, to have His heart.  So wonderful to know that He is alive forever!

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36:26

I am grateful for this heart transplant.  Thank you, Father.

With heart,

Clinging souls upheld

Hospitalizations of loved ones unleash prayers for mercy and health.  The faithfulness of praying family and friends adds strength and grace during busy days and long nights.  What a blessing to experience such support and comfort. 

In addition to praying friends and family, the Lord holds and sustains the one who cries out; the one who clings to Him. 

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"But you are a shield around me, O  Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.  To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill."   Psalm 3:3-4 

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"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8

While clinging to the Lord and receiving the gift of support from family and friends, my heart is grateful for:

#232  restorative power of blood

#233  oxygen for body and soul

#234  check in phone calls

#235  overstuffed chair time for reading, writing, praying...

#236  trust lessons that emerge from unlearning the tendency to lean on my understanding (still unlearning)

#237  His unfailing love resting upon us

#238  child-like ability to carry on in the midst of pain

 #239  singing - really singing - in the shadow of his wings

#240  visits to help family and friend

#241  Strong and Loving Lord

Interested in joining this Gratitude Community? 

  

We Came; We Saw; We...

A group of geese greeted my friend when she arrived home from work.

She graciously shared the photo she took as daylight was ending.

The picture of the geese reminds me to:

Take time to chill at the end of the day;

Be curious about the surroundings;

Spend time with friends; and

Shake off the weight that accumulates in body, soul, and spirit.