After church yesterday I checked my phone and found a text from our middle child inviting us to meet them for dinner. That in itself is a reason for joy for we don't see them often. But, after I responded that we would meet with them, he 'casually' mentioned his daughter and family would also be up. Now THAT is something to get excited about! We haven't seen them since last Christmas! Yes, it has been that long. No one's fault; just time and distance.
Oh what fun we had! The little munchkin is 5 now and at first was shy, but it wasn't long before she was being sociable with us and interacting with us. She was such fun! And I got to sit next to my granddaughter so we could catch up. It was a wonderful evening and one that goes in my treasured memory. What fun it was, and we are so happy we got to visit with them all. Hubby and I had just talked in the afternoon about making a trip down to Tucson - how long have I been talking about it? This time (before we went) He brought it up. THAT is a definite positive! But, with the holidays coming, it may prove difficult. But, will see what will happen. NOW I can plan that little retreat... LOL.... and get a day visit in too.
Watching a couple sessions in season 2 of The Chosen yesterday afternoon, there were several things that gave one thought. The last scene we watched before we started to get ready for dinner really hit both hubby and I. The scene is Jesus and his disciples are in Samaria, I think, and people are lined up everywhere to see Jesus and to be healed. All day long He healed people. In the scene, his mother comes to visit and is sitting with the disciples as they are talking. Jesus is separate from them, in a tent, healing. Late at night, He walks straight to His own tent. He speaks to them as He walks by them, and they - the disciples and Mary - are standing up, watching Him, exhausted from the day, walking. He stops outside His tent and kind of leans His head against it. Mary runs to him and kneels down, removes His sandals, and washes His feet, washes His hands, wipes His forehead.... neither saying a word. He wraps His arms around her and tells her 'thank you, Immi'. before going in and lying down. Mary closes the 'doors' of the tent. The scene is silent, except for the words whispered by Jesus to His mother. He is exhausted, worn out, and needed rest.
It was a very moving scene and Hubby and I talked about it afterwards. Things we read about in our Bible but don't always consider...... how exhausted Jesus must have been after hours of healing people. And who stopped to minister to Him, but His mother.
How many times do we watch our pastors preach, teach, visit, lead, ..... and we just continue to watch instead of being available to help them, to take some of that burden from them? How many times do we even watch our spouses, or close friends, work at things intently, only to just stand there and watch? Observe? and do nothing? What are we doing?
Lord, please open our eyes and our hearts to see what we can do to help others, regardless of what the task is, regardless if it is menial, regardless if it costs us something.
The first few days of this week are going to be extremely busy. Besides work. Today I'm having lunch with a friend I've known for .... well, since 1968. Yep, met her years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. Tonight is Bible study. Tomorrow is when my anguish is I don't want to go ... the admins have been invited by the Corporate admins for a Halloween luncheon of sorts. I don't want to go down town! I wasn't going to go, but then someone asked me to pick up a basket won by one of my support leaders from the main Corporate office.... and take it down to my old office - which is 47 miles away one way. Now if it was 50 miles I could claim mileage. Sigh. Oh well. I don't want to do that either and feel they are taking advantage of me being their support person. But, I need to suck it up and just do it. It comes under the paragraph above, I guess.... help others even when it cost us something. It's going to cost me gas and time away from all my work. Usually that isn't a problem, but I don't want to do it. I'm not going to Mesa until Wednesday...which means 3 days of work this week will be crazy. Oh well. I have an excuse, right?
Luke 6:31 (NKJV): "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."
Yeah, that verse popped into my mind. If it was MY basket, I would want someone to pick it up for me and get it to me, right? I mean, I won a basket too, and I had no problem driving all the way to Mesa to pick it up. So it's like, "Suck it up, buttercup", right? (My real issue is just having to drive downtown to the Corporate office, to which I have only been once or twice, and have no idea where to park as I never drove either time - and that was at least three years ago.)
I'm feeling really tired this morning...whether from thinking about all I need to do this week besides work or what, I don't know. I'm just really tired and wish I could just hole up in my room today and shut out the world. I don't want to play world today. But, alas, it is something I must do. Some day I may be able to hide out for days on end... but today is not one of them. I glanced at my work emails last night and had about 20, I think. I narrowed it down to about 15 before I quit looking. I know today is going to be a busy day. And I have the lunch with my friend. At least it is close by and I won't be gone long, and I am allowed an hour for lunch - which I don't always take. I'm going to think positive that this is going to be an awesome day, that I am going to get things done that need to be done, that I will end this day still being positive and ready to tackle another day. Sounds good, right? LOL
With that, I'm going to wish you a blessed day, one in which your eyes and ears will be open to others, that you will accomplish all that you desire to accomplish today, one that will be filled with love and joy and kindness.
Blessings!
