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!!!!