Angels Among Us

                                         

For He will give His Angels charge concerning you, to guard in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:11-12

My family is trying to find our new “normal” after the unexpected death of my dad. 

As I share memories of my dad with friends and family, I have used reflective examples of how wonderful God has been and how confident I am that God is in control and has our best interest in mind.

With that said, last week my mom was getting estate  paperwork together and could not find one of the required identification cards. It was as if one minute you see it and now you don’t. She knew where she had kept it for the many years and now when she really needed the documentation, it was NOT there. This one little card prevented her from getting this task completed. As I was reviewing the day with my sisters and we were assisting our mom in the search, a calming story from my past came to mind.

I am the director for the National League of Jr. Cotillions in our county and a neighboring county. One night, several years ago, after class, a single mom that had volunteered to assist in our class activities, could not find her car keys. We dumped her pocketbook, looked in every compartment of her purse and they were not in there. She had driven to class, put them in a safe place in her purse, and now…. They were gone.

My “gentleman” husband, without second thought, after thirty- forty-five minutes of unsuccessful looking, carried the mom and son home and made sure that they got in their home safely. The next morning, she called and with a sense of shock in her voice informed me that her keys were in her pocketbook the whole time… she dumped her purse again that morning to have them fall out on the table. WOW!!! God is so good with his timing and placing the right people to do his will…

I honestly believe that there was a reason why this family was not to be in her car at that time right after class and that they were not to go home alone… I don’t know WHY and it is not my place to ask. But… my husband was used to answer a prayer and keep this mom and son safe that night. Did he think anything about taking them home and assisting her in looking for the keys, NO…he was right there assisting and trying to make sure that everyone got home that night.

 God’s timing is perfect!!

I feel that I need to say that again… God’s timing is perfect!!

As a Christian, I am asked to have a “child like” faith. Demonstrating that type of faith opens up opportunities for us to be God’s Angels here on earth. Perfect timing is not always  “Our” timing and everything is not always as we want the outcome. But, knowing that what ever slows me down  (that tractor in the road when I am late for work) or interrupts my plans (my dad getting called to heaven on father’s day) is all for HIS will- gives me peace and a sense of purpose.

My mom had to order a new card. We have not found her original one yet. But, the urgency of completing that task on that day has passed. We will pick back up when everything is ready. Our family is now focusing on other task and my eyes, ears and heart are open to  opportunities that may be available to be an “Angle” here on earth.

It's Been a "Hard Day's Night"

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.

 1 Corinthians 6:19

For the last few weeks, sleep has not come easy. With that said, I begin reflecting on  WHY and what  factors are contributing to the problem. 

I can work with out sleep, but…. It  “ ain’t a purty sight” after 48 hours or so. I actually become less productive than if I just stop and rest with sleep. Now, that is easier said than done.

I don’t want to admit this, but the type A perfectionist, that over achieves and over books, during certain months of the year, has so much, that I feel needs to be done, that my body and mind will not shut down to rest.  I can predict on a calendar, when the insomnia will occur.  End of the school year, Beginning of the school year are the worst but there are a few moments in between. So….. what have I learned in my many years of experience and what am I going to do about it?

 Answering this question is where the science teacher and investigator come into play.  I found some interesting facts which include the following top 5 on my list:

Lack of sleep causes accidents

Lack of sleep impairs your ability to think and learn

Lack of sleep makes you forgetful

Lack of sleep ages your skin

Lack of sleep contributes to obesity

 And the list goes on and on……  

When I think I am getting more accomplished by working through the night or late into the early morning of the night, in reality, I don’t think I really get more done. I have to try to make up the lost sleep. I take a nap or go to bed early. I must shut down the main hard drive (my brain) to make the sleep count. During the worst times of the year, I have learned that making lists and checking off the events or projects, one at the time, will trick my mind into a somewhat less stressed state and I can get a few hours of sound sleep.

Whatever the trick that you have found for survival, use it to calm the soul and ease the mind, so that the needed rest can allow for optimum performance at your task.

Our bodies are God’s temple…. Taking care of your body with rest is one way that we can give God our best.