Friday, April 23, 2010

My dearest God,

I did not expect such a sweet time with you on my drive to Knoxville, Tennessee. When I left home, I told my husband I would use the seven hour drive as a time of prayerful reflection. I began by thinking of my friend Rose who recently died of ovarian cancer, the reason for my brief trip south. I reflected upon our friendship in Fort Wayne, Indiana when we were members of the same church, had children the same ages and shared many activities together. Our claim to fame was the call that came from a local newspaper reporter who was writing a special feature on friendship. He wanted Rose and me to be the lead article. Our laughing faces were spread wide on the paper as they shared details of what it means to be a friend. Rose and her husband Ed drove all the way from Tennessee to share with me in my retirement celebration. We all three cried together. I loved Rose.

Thinking about my friend lead me to ruminate upon my daughter Jenni who also was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While I wept about the loss of Rose, I cried tears of gratitude for Jenni because she was spared continuous treatment and death. She is alive, gave birth to her second child nearly six years ago and will run the mini marathon in a couple of weeks.

Over the course of the next several hours you rained down blessing on me. I thought about my husband, children and grandchildren. I thought of other friends and churches I had served. When I put on a CD I had not listened to in a very long time, I teared again as I thought of the many women who had found peace, hope and comfort in Songs for the Inner Child. I recalled many healings, insights, visions and revelations that had come in the last several decades.

In my mind I mulled over the growth of my own faith as you sought me out, challenged me in my stuck places and nudged me to move, to let go and take steps forward. As the sun began to shine after a couple hours of rain, I took in the awesome beauty of your creation and more tears flowed as I realized and acknowledged the wonderment of your presence in the cosmos, even in the tiny spot where I was and I was exceedingly grateful.

You are
the brightest spot
in my life,
O God.
There is nothing
you will
not do
for your children.
What reminiscing joy
I felt today
and all because
you took me
on a journey
to gratitude.

Love, Andrea