Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Dear God,

I heard someone holler hello so I looked up from my gardening.  She stood in the street with a happy white poodle.  I laid down my tool, stood up, and walked over to the edge of the yard.  We began talking.  Within a minute I realized something was wrong with her because she had trouble saying her words.  Then she told me four years ago she had two brain tumors.  When they removed one tumor, it impaired her speech.  I told her to take her time forming her words.

For twenty or thirty minutes Anna and I talked.  She told me she had lived in a house around the corner for a number of years and she had always watched me prepare my garden for spring.  She had always wanted to meet me and talk. As a university professor with two degrees she no longer worked because of her speech impairment.  At some point she thanked me for being nice to her and she left.

As I went back to my work, I thought of how many times you call out to me and I never look up.  I keep on going about my business. I allow my feelings of self importance to override your voice to pause, look up, and pay attention.  I fail to meet the challenge of faith and I miss the blessing of your living presence in my life. Today Anna blessed me and taught me to listen, look up, and live a little on the faith side.

Forgiving God,
thank you
for lessons
of faith.
Thank you
for Anna.
Bless her
in her healing.
Teach me
to stop
what I
am doing
so I
won't miss
your visit,
I pray.

Love, Andrea