Wednesday August 12 2015  A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE

I was home alone tonight.  It is Wednesday.  Dave’s night out.  His night out consist of meeting with a man in the capacity of a Stephen Minister.  Both Dave and I have been through the classes to become trained Stephen Ministers.  As a Stephen Minister you meet weekly with a person who is going through a crisis of some kind and needs someone to talk with; people who are going through divorce, or loss of a spouse or child, a terminal illness, or who have lost a job or any other number of personal situations that are difficult to go through alone. Our position as a care giver is to listen. You may have the same person for a few weeks, a few months or even a year or more.  I have had some for just weeks and others for two years because of experiencing another crisis while we were meeting and needed further support.  I believe it is very worthwhile for both the care receiver as well as the care giver.  If you or someone you know is experiencing a loss of some kind perhaps you should check and see if your church or another local church offers Stephen Ministry.  It is all done by trained volunteers so there is no charge.  The training takes about a year depending how frequently the classes are scheduled.  It took us about one year to attend the classes.  It was a lot of dedication and work.

But, back to being home alone.  After being with Dave over the past 7 weeks both day and night, and then to have him absent, leaves a big void.  I sat at the bar in the kitchen and had my dinner alone.  I was amazed at how empty the house is without him.  It made me think of all the time I was gone and  what it must have been like for him.  There is a sadness about a house when it is empty of the only other occupant that lives there.  The soft background noises are gone.  No footsteps or rattling paper or any other common noises the other person makes.  There seems to be a void, a hollowness that prevails when it is only me that inhabits the house.  I’m not the type to get lonely so I guess if I were I would have lonely tonight.  I didn’t have time to be lonely.  I worked non-stop on the wedding album and emails and just started the Blog writing when he walked in at 9:15 p.m.  When Dave arrived home I asked him what it was like to be in the house without me for so many months.  Trying to make me feel bad, he hangs his head and tell me that he came home every night to an empty house.  I asked him what that was like for him.  Then a big wicked grin lights is face and he says, too emphatically, “QUIET”!  And we both laugh.  Just in case you might not know, I do like to talk.  I am trying to corral my words and give him his “quiet time”.  I am so thankful for my husband.  Even when he is quiet.

I had a delightful surprise visited upon me today.  Betts called me last night to inform me that she wanted to come by today with a long-time friend named Amy.  I don’t feel at liberty to tell  you Amy’s story but it is amazing.  Amy is from China.  The minute they arrived I looked at Amy and knew God had just deposited a love in my heart for Amy, someone very special.  She brought her cello in from the car when she came in because she wanted to play it for us.  She has had only three lessons but she has already picked up the basics for playing and has such a wonderfully pitched ear that her songs rang clear and true.  The sound of her cello was deep and mellow and lovely.  I think I could listen to cello music a long time.  We talked, laughed, prayed, listened to her music and heard some of her story.  Betts has known her for years and has always spoken so highly of her when she would come to visit me that I always longed to meet her.  She has had a very difficult life but has overcome some very demanding, challenging, situations.  She is a strong woman.  She is in  her blooming season of life!  Their visit was a desire fulfilled.  Last week when Betts left, my thoughts were, I wish I would see Betts again before she leaves Wisconsin.  God saw that desire and fulfilled it!  My other desire was that I meet Amy.  That too has been fulfilled.  Their visit was the highlight of my day.  I wish I had remembered to ask Amy for her wisdom.  Well, I think I will still have a chance because I intend to contact her again.  She lives about 60 to 75 minutes away.  God is so good to bring such wonderful people into our lives.

As Amy was getting in her car to leave she turned to me and said “I love you from the moment I first saw you when I drove up.”  Those were truly sweet words to say to to me and even more beautiful for me to hear in her soft accent and choice of words.  When God puts a love in my heart for someone like He did today when He gave me a love for Amy, I knew there was a reason.  I don’t know what it is yet, but God always reveals His plan at the perfect time.  It’s special for me to know that Amy felt the same love being tucked inside her heart.

MY SONG OF LOVE FOR YOU 

By Kathleen Martens

August 12 2012

Lord, clear my head of cobwebs

And clear my eyes of sleep.

Let me reach out and grab

The words You’d have me keep.

All the books upon the shelf

Hold not the poem I’ll write.

If I can just stay awake

And these heavy eyelids fight.

I thank you for Your fulfillment

Of the desires my heart holds

You seem to always know just when

What words I need be told.

Tomorrow’s poem will be different

Than the one I compose tonight

No poem can be written today

That should have been written last night.

And tonight’s poem is not tomorrow’s.

If not written today it will never be.

Some do not understand the NOW

And the perfection of the poem NOW sees.

For each moment lends its thought

And reckons the heart of PRESENT

The words that are written down

Are the culmination of NOW’S essence.

So I will choose to say

What now is in my heart.

I will offer words of love

With the gift of my art.

Thank you Lord for giving me

A gift that is each day new,

A simple poem written this hour,

Is my song of love for You.

So my wisdom today is:  “Do not put off until tomorrow the words you desire to write tonight.  Because tomorrow the words will not be what you would write tonight.  You will write tomorrow’s words tomorrow for tomorrow will bring new thoughts, new dreams, new ideas.” 

Good Night.