Lesson in Living

I had some sad news yesterday.  A dear lady from church had died last week.

She was elderly, and we hadn't seen her for a long time since she moved to live nearer her family, but she made such a deep impact on me.  She had the kind of reverent gratitude for life, and total encompassing kindness that made her very special to be with.

I will never forget sitting next to her in church one morning, a morning when I was really struggling, and prayed that God would help me somehow.  He chose Dee to do this.  She started to talk to me, I hadn't said anything really, but for some reason she started to talk about how she had lost her husband many years ago, and how there had, ever since then, been people around her to keep her safe, and keep her in the knowledge that she was loved.  We talked for a long time, and I forget the detail of the conversation, but I will never forget the wonder in her voice when she talked about how amazing it was to trust that God would arrange the circumstances to help her to cope with whatever happened to her.  And I will never forget her gratitude either, when she talked about the people in her life who helped her.

She talked about how she woke up every morning and thanked God that she was alive, knowing that He would see her through the day.
So often I wake up and wish I wasn't alive, knowing that every minute might be a struggle.  How foolish this is.  I have the most wonderful people in my life, I have physical health, I have faith, I have a job with a supportive team of people.  I have SO MANY BLESSINGS.

I am gradually learning to accept and appreciate them, and people like this wonderful, patient lady make the journey so much clearer.

Rest in Peace, Dee.  I pray that I may one day grow to have a little of your gratitude, acceptance, and faith.