Friday, December 9, 2016

Feeling Gratitude


This morning I had a flashback of an incident that happened several years ago. I was working out of town, and was driving home through Talladega in severe weather. Tornado warnings had been issued. A tire blew on my vehicle and I was sitting there, on the side of the road with no cell service and a tornado on the way.

I was desperately trying to get a call out, when a young man tapped on my window. He said, "M'am, I don't want to scare you, but I can see you're in distress." In no time, he replaced the tire with the spare and had me back on the road. About a mile later, I came up on an out of the way office building, and I sought shelter just as the worst of the storm hit. He pulled in right behind me and we stayed in that office until the storm blew over.

I wish that I could go back to that day and tell that young man what a blessing he was, and how thankful I was that he stopped to help me. I know that I thanked him, but wish I could have done more.

Even as I write this, I realize that, if I am thinking of him, there is a reason, and it is never to late to remember and show gratitude. So, I would like to take this moment to thank that young man for helping me. I did not forget your kindness. I hope that in my life, I can remember to be like you, and to help others when they need it and where I can. Wherever you are, wherever life has taken you, I ask our Creator to protect you and to give you a special blessing in your life, right now. I am thinking of you, and may God bless you.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

A True Christmas Miracle, From My Heart to Yours

When my children were small, we lived in the old home place. One particular Christmas, we had a glorious tree that reached almost to the top of the high ceilings. That year, the star went out and I had to find a replacement. While shopping, I found the most beautiful Christmas Angel. Her wings felt like real feathers, and her hands held two candles, which moved gracefully back and forth as she nodded her head. It was the most beautiful tree top angel I had ever seen, so I took her home with me.

We placed her on top of the tree and she completely enchanted me. She was just so beautiful, and I felt that our old decorations just didn’t do her justice. I told my husband that we needed to replace our old lights with new ones. He told me that I was crazy, and that if I wanted to take on a project like that, I would have to do it by myself.

The more I thought about it, the more certain I was that we just had to change out the old lights for new ones. So I went to the store and bought all new white lights, new tinsel and glass balls. Then came the slow job of pulling off the old decorations.

Everything went fine until I got to the lights. I pulled and tugged and tugged and pulled, but I couldn’t get them off. I called for help and was again told that I was on my own. Then I said, “No, something is wrong.”

We then made a shocking discovery. The old lights had melted down into a puddle on the floor, and had burned a hole into the carpet that went all the way to the wood underneath. I believe in my heart, that, had it not been for the Christmas angel, we would have lost our home that year, and possibly our lives.

Our guardian angel protected us.

I know that at Christmas time, we get caught up in the frenzy of shopping and gift giving. There are so many places to be and things to do and sometimes we forget about the magic of it all.

I believe.

I believe in miracles. I believe that we have guardian angels that watch over us, and that they guide us toward the things we need to do, if only we will listen. Listening can be hard, I know. Sometimes it seems as if the voices of those around us are greater than our voice within. Small and still as it may be, it is always there, struggling to be heard.

I give thanks that Christ came into the world for us, and that He gave us the ultimate gift. I give thanks for the angels who watch over us. And I offer this prayer for you. I wish you happy times with good friends. I hope you can enjoy some warm cocoa while listening to soft music. May you always know peace and joy, love and kindness, compassion and well-being. May you laugh long and from your heart. May you have good health and prosperity and may your guardian angel watch over you and keep you safe, until our Lord takes us home.


Thursday, July 21, 2016

A Collection of Journeys

I made this video several years ago, and re-discovered it while going through some files on my computer.    These are nature photos from my travels.   The music is Loreena McKennitt (Dante's Prayer), from her album "Book of Secrets".  To my knowledge, I have not violated copyright, as You Tube said the publisher allows. Enjoy . . . .