This blog post is the fourth and last in a series of some God-discoveries I made during the month of May. To go back and read previous posts, click here for #1, here for #2, and here for #3 in the series.
Day Twenty-two:
In Walmart today, I observed a Mennonite mother shopping with her two young boys. The mom used one arm to push a grocery cart while she jostled her fussing baby on her other arm, and the preschooler tagged along beside. Later, I heard the baby wailing at different times as the mom made her way throughout the store. She and I ended up beside each other at the self-checkouts then, and I promised myself that I'd give her a hand as soon as I had rung all of my items through. But before that could happen, another customer - a pleasant-faced, stocky man who looked to be in his 60's - came by and asked if he could help her. Well, she didn't know...for half a minute she hesitated, but then...the things at the bottom of my cart are kind of heavy, she conceded... And immediately the man came around to her checkout counter and began lifting the heavy things, scanning the items, entertaining the 4-yr-old, packing the bags, and arranging the entire grocery lot back into her cart. When I was fixing to leave the store, the mom was paying for her items while he waited by the loaded cart, having indicated to her beforehand that he would also push the full cart out to the parking lot and unload the bags into her vehicle.
Today, when I watched a stranger help the mom who had her arms full (literally!), I caught a glimpse of God.
He notices a need, and makes full provision for it.
Day Twenty-three:
Tonight Ken and I got to spend some time with two other couples who have been our friends for years. At these gatherings, each of us ladies supplies a main dish, a salad, or a dessert for our shared meal, and then we rave about each other's food, ask about the recipes, and go back for seconds. The six of us gab almost non-stop. We hardly have enough time to catch up on news of our families and our communities. And there are always reminisces to dig up from past gatherings, to exclaim or to re-laugh over. Times with old friends are a treasured gift, I thought, as we pulled ourselves away from the cozy circle around the campfire to head home.
Today, when relaxing the company of comfortable people, I caught a glimpse of God.
He allows us to grow old with friends.
Day Twenty-four:
I love when Kerra shares with Ken and me some little tidbit of her school life. It sparks delight into my day to hear of the humor that Grade Two students can generate. Such as the time one of them asked their teacher when they're going to do "the cattail tests". (I can easily see how that happened...those imposing Canadian Achievement Tests have CAT right in their name!). And when you can't think of the word "airport" while telling the story of a friend's flight delay, you can always substitute with "plane station". (I mean - train station, plane station - why not?😊)
Today, when hearing the humorous sayings of children, I caught a glimpse of God.
He gives us a different perspective on things in life, through little people.
Day Twenty-five:
I joined Ken on his walk this afternoon. We went on the paved RIM Park trail which meanders through swamp land and wooded area bordering the Grand River. Part way into our walk, I suggested that we could go our separate ways for a while, to benefit us both. He could go to the end of the trail at the speed he normally uses for his daily walks and I wouldn't slow him down. I could turn around and go back along the trail at a speed more conducive to photo-taking and he could catch up to me on his return trip, making it possible for us to finish the walk together. At one point after I was on the trail alone, the sun broke out of a sky that had been heavy with rain clouds all day. The section of the path ahead of me was bathed in light and I walked into it, feeling so noticed and cared for.
Today, when I entered the sunlit stretch of trail, I caught a glimpse of God.
He lights and warms my way with His love.
Day Twenty-six:
Some of the peace-themed songs we sang during worship time at church tend to stir up poignant memories for me. "Peace, Perfect Peace" takes me right back to the graveside service in which we buried our too-tiny baby Randy. "Perfect peace, really? Even with death shadowing us and ours? Yes, Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers!" Singing "Like a River, Glorious" makes me think of hearing it for the first time during prayer meeting at Northwoods the week Ken and I got married. I was quite stressed out at times those days, and the song brought such good, calming reminders. "Stayed upon Jehovah, not a surge of worry, shade of care or blast of hurry can touch my spirit." The looking back during worship time this morning somehow helped to bring assurance of peace in Jesus as I look ahead.
This morning, when I sang with my Oasis Church family, I caught a glimpse of God.
He is my Prince of Peace.
Day Twenty-seven:
I had a lovely evening with my mom-in-law and sisters-in-law celebrating the two ladies among us who have birthdays this month. We went to a fancy restaurant for dinner, and enjoyed tasty entrees and dessert and pleasant conversation while seated in comfortable, padded wooden chairs around a large table. Near the end of meal, one of the ladies got up to leave the table for a washroom break. She gasped in astonishment and held up a round metal waiter's tray to show the rest of us. "I was sitting on this the whole time!" she chortled. What?? How could she have not known it? Not felt the 3/4-inch-high lip on the tray? The whole time!! She was such a good sport, but this was just too funny. We all sat there and howled with incredulous laughter.
Tonight, when my in-laws and I "lost it" laughing, I caught a glimpse of God.
He uses humor to refresh us.
Day Twenty-eight:
During my quiet time this morning, I pondered the lyrics to the song "Near to the Heart of God", not knowing that I would see its theme illustrated later on in the day. I got a call from our son (the triplet-dad) asking if he could bring Piper over to stay with me while he takes Jude in to the ER to get checked out for respiratory problems. Jude's symptoms were similar to the ones for which his brother Quinn was admitted to the hospital yesterday. I said of course Piper could come. She has a cold too, but it hasn't gotten as bad as her siblings' illness, thankfully. She played quite contentedly, but at nap time she got restless and wasn't able to settle. I couldn't blame her for crying, knowing she was in a rather strange place and placed in a pack-n-play instead of her own bed to try to fall asleep in. And her mom and dad were gone, caring for her brothers who were both hospitalized with a nasty respiratory virus. When I picked her up, I was surprised that she clung to me, because she's been known to act more delighted when I leave than when I come to their house! (since I'm not her mom) I guess because I was the only adult available today, Piper nestled in my arms, laid her head on my chest, and fell asleep. I think God wanted to show me what it could look like to take my cares and worries of the day to Him, nestle down near to His heart, and rest.
Today, when I cuddled Piper on the couch (and eventually we both fell asleep), I caught a glimpse of God.
He offers a place of quiet rest near to His heart.
Day Twenty-nine:
I had a different outlook on life today than I had yesterday. My sick grandsons made great strides toward better health. Jude got to go home from the hospital already, and Quinn was so much better that Joy thinks he will surely get discharged tomorrow morning. The triplets' other grandma was on babysitting duty, so I was free to go and do the big shopping trip necessary for heading up the Martin Family Camping event this coming weekend. I even had time to visit my elderly friend in the hospital tonight, and while I was there, I popped in for a quick chat with Joy and Quinn in the pediatric unit. It was delightful to see that the Quinn-grin is back in working order. Thank you, Jesus! Then I came home so upbeat in spirit that I went and ate too many snacks and scrolled too much Facebook. The result was regret and guilt. Why can't I allow both sorrow and joy to draw me to the heart of God?
Tonight, when I thought about the contrast in my moods between yesterday and today, I caught a glimpse of God.
He reminds me that only He can truly satisfy.
Day Thirty:
I finished the book that Sarah J. Martin wrote about lessons she's learning from seven teachers - her children. She ends the book with a very fitting story of her young daughter wanting to be carried "until they were home" even though the distance was only to the house from the trampoline in the back yard, and she was getting almost too big to be carried. Reading about it reminded me of how touching I found the song "Jesus Led Me All the Way", when our friend Bear sang it in his deep, expressive voice. I know that when I get to heaven and meet Jesus face to face, I will testify that I'm here only because He led me all the way. And I shall thank Him especially for the times He picked me up when I, like Sarah's daughter in her book, wanted Him to be the One to carry me until we're Home.
Today, when I read about Jayna wanting her mom to carry her all the way home, I caught a glimpse of God.
He'll be with me all the way.
Day Thirty-one:
Since Carlin and Kayleen and the twins arrived here last night, my daughter was present on The Day Of in the lineup of preparing-and-packing days for Martin Family Camping. Kayleen offered to help me in the kitchen during the twins' nap times. She helped me "pull" the pork for the Sunday lunch our family was designated to supply, taste-tested the homemade BBQ sauce and assisted me in deciding how wet to make the pork with said sauce. She diced the red bell peppers for the pineapple salsa. She shredded the cabbage and carrots for the coleslaw - enough to stuff a fix-n-mix bowl tight full - and confirmed that the amount would suffice as a side dish for feeding 70+ people. Then she did up the dishes and wiped the counters. Every time, I am amazed anew at just how much can be accomplished by partnership with my girls in the kitchen.
Today, while working with Kayleen on Camping preparations, I caught a glimpse of God.
He astonishes me with His help.
Reflections, in closing: I started out this series with a desire to know God in deeper, richer ways. Now, at the end of this discovery month, I can't say that I know God fully. (Can we ever say that?) But He has opened my eyes and heart to Him, and I am so grateful for all the daily glimpses. I want to keep getting a fuller picture of who He is, in the months and years to come.
How has God been showing Himself to you lately?
