OPPORTUNITIES

Today is Friday, January 8th, 2016.  A brand New Year.

Yesterday we got the wonderful, encouraging word from Mickey's Lung Doctor that his lung x-ray shows improvement since his last visit, August 18th.  We were SOOOO overjoyed and so praising our wonderful God.

On our way home, God gave me not one, but two opportunities to serve those around me. (I don't usually share things I do, but I always try and share all the many things that are done for us.......which are SO many!!!)

When we left Dr. Schelbar's office we were literally having difficulty keeping our feet upon the ground but we needed to stop at Aldi's to pick up a few things. While waiting to get sour cream there was a little boy and an older foreign woman at that section and the little boy was having trouble selecting a yogurt he was getting to choose.  The lady, who saw me standing there waiting, pulled him back so I could get my item.  I smiled and said, "Thank you".  

When we got to the check-out stand the lady and the little boy were right behind us putting her few items on the belt.  As the belt would move the little boy was almost hugging the 2 yogurts among the other  few items.  Mickey even said to him, "You aren't letting those get away from you are you"?  We all chuckled.

In the line ahead of us was a mother with two children.  The little boy in the basket had a pacifier in his mouth and a fairly large blue ball in his hands.  He was looking at me with his big chocolate eyes and I asked his mother how old he was.  "He is 2" was her reply, "Yes, he is 2".  As they checked her out the cashier noticed a cookie had been removed from the package she was scanning.  She told the lady to go ahead afterward and get a full package.  

My items were checked and put in the basket and I was given the amount I owed.  As I was preparing to swipe my debit card the older lady, with the small boy and the yogurt, realized she did not have her card, or any money.  She was telling the cashier this and exclaiming how sorry she was.  You could tell she was so embarrassed and upset.  I quietly said to the cashier, go ahead and ring her up and put it on my ticket.  The older lady was saying, "Give me your phone # so I can repay you".  I said, "No, that's fine I want to do this."  

Mickey at this time is on the side counters bagging up our items, the young mother with the 2 children is beside him.  After I got my card swiped and was walking away the woman was still thanking me.  I turned and said, "This isn't from me it's from GOD."  She exclaimed, "Oh God bless you."

As I was walking over to help Mickey the young mother with the 2 children said, "Can you please watch my children for a few minutes?  I have to run back in."  Of course I would.  The little 2 year old with the blue ball is still in the basket, and his sister is sitting on the loading shelf with a red ball.  I asked her how old she was - 5.  I asked her name.  She told me.  I asked the boys name.   She told me.  The little boy is trying to give me his blue ball, still sucking on his pacifier.  I tell him "no, you keep it".  I said to the little girl, "You both got new balls today"?  She said, "Yes".  I said, "You got blessed".  She looked at me and I said, "Do you know what blessed means"?  She nodded "no".  I said "When God does nice things for us that is being blessed.  Do you know who God is"?  She was saying, "yes." when her mother returned and said, "Oh yes, she knows who God is.  We go to church all the time and she goes to her class".  She thanked me profusely for watching the kids.  I assured her I was honored to do so.

I'm tell you ----------- on top of our GOOD NEWS and GOD'S GOODNESS TO US and then being blessed by my GOD to be used in 2 such little ways ------- I was almost floating as Mickey pushed our cart and we headed for the our car. 

As I am writing this, at 11:50 a.m. on the 18th I am awaiting a phone call from The Breast Center about 2 biopsies that were performed on my left breast yesterday morning at 8:30 a.m.  I have been, since finding our I needed these on December 15th,  and am today, totally calm. 

God has been speaking to me in soooo many ways.  Today my 31 day Scripture Writing Plan was Psalm 27:1-3 "Light, space, zest - that's GOD!  So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.  When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, those bullies and toughs fell flat on their faces.  When besieged, I'm calm as a baby.  When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool".  The Message - How GOD to have me writing this scripture on this day - whatever the outcome is!!!!   

   

SHOUT IT FROM THE HOUSE TOPS - GOD IS SO GOOD

Our hearts are full and our mouths are shouting praises to our GOD.  Mickey had his 6 month follow-up appointment with the lung Doctor yesterday. 

X-Rays show his lungs BETTER today than 6 months ago!!

Yes, Faith IS the gift of God.

The story of today:  His appointment was at 3:30.  This is the FOURTH lung Doctor he have seen.  We waited, and we waited.  Around 4:30 the nurse, Michelle, who was not new and we had seen the last time, came in and thanked us for being so patient and asked if we'd like something to drink.  She brought Mickey a cup of coffee and myself a diet Coke.  We waited some more.  The nurse came back in, with Mickey's very thick file in her hand, and commented again on our patience.  She then stated that they had deliberately taken other patients in front of us to hold Mickey for Dr. Schelbar to see last.  Since Mickey had not seen him before, and he was not that familiar with Mickey's case, he wanted as much time as needed to spend with him.  Now THAT was a God move.

Michelle set Mickey's thick file on the examining table and began going through the papers.  She was asking us the dates of the various procedures, pulling out those files, placing them in order, to make it easier for the Doctor to get the whole picture.  We waited a little more.

Dr. Schelbar came in.  His first words to us were, "You've really been through it with the doctors, but I assure you I am not leaving".  Music to our ears.  We liked him and his easy going, caring manner from the minute he walked into the room.  Another GOD move, giving Mickey this great doctor to follow him now and in the future.  He, himself, was stunned with Mickey's history during that year, July 30, 2014 - July 30,2015.  He looked Mickey straight in the eye and said, "I'm here to tell you, if a 42 year old man had gone through as much as you have it would have been very difficult, much less at 82".   

At the end of the appointment he said he'd see us in 3 months for follow-up.  He told me if Mickey began to get short of breath or spit-up something bad to call the office.  He said, "I can't promise you I'd get you in that day for sure, but we will get you in within two days".  He then apologized for keeping us so late, 5:30,  and putting us out in the midst of the bad after work traffic.  We assured him we were grateful he had done so and taken the time to spend with us.

We then followed the Doctor to view the X-ray comparisons of the improvement and Michelle said, "You get the good patient award" and gave us 2 of the daily inhalers Mickey takes.

Mickey and I were having trouble keeping our feet on the ground as we rode the elevator down the 12 floors, walked through the empty building and out onto the almost empty parking lot ....... PRAISING GOD every step of the way.  

YES, Faith IS the Gift of GOD