Daily Blessing

[Mike Vande]

Those of you who have known me here for a while know that I am not the poster boy for happiness at the best of times. I tend towards depressiion, and that has been a lifelong thing for me.

Recently, God has been showing me that a good way to avoid getting stuck in the pits when my mind starts drifting towards my failures and unhappy choices is to count my blessings, conciously, by choice, and out loud if I have to.

So, I have decided to start posting one blessing a day, here and as email to friends who don't participate. I figure it will keep me thinking about them if I have to coose one to post.

My blessing for today actually happened yesterday. I arrive at church early on the days I am playing for worship, so the team can reahearse the tunes we are doing that day. I arrive at about 8:15, and there is always this little old lady sitting out in what we call the "wrap-around", a sort of long crescent shaped hallway that bends around our sanctuary. I have said "hi" to her, but always kept going, being focused on getting into the sanctuary to set my gear up.

Yesterday, there was another lady whom I know talking to ehre, and she waved me over. I spoke to both of them for a minute, but then I just stopped and listened to this lady as she talked with us for a while. I found out she is 89 years old, and is grateful to God that she still able to do for herself. In fact, she just couldn't stop talking about the blessing God has put in her life. She married her husband after he came back from WWII, and he wanted to farm. He ended up tenant farming for and uncle, and his first paycheck was $100. She knew she couldn't have the house she dreamed of for her family on that amount, so she went to work in the Sunflower Gunpowder factory, just a few miles from where they were farming. She worked till she had kids, and they eventually earned enough to buy 20 acres from the uncle and some years later, were able to sell 10 acres for more than they had originally paid for 200, and got out of debt. Her comment at the end was "It's a wonderful thing how much God will do for us, if we're willing to try." She's a widow and lives by herself, but doesn't talk about being lonely or missing her kids. She has been through a lot of stuff in her life, but she just can't stop praising God for all He's done for her. That woman is happiness on the hoof.

I told her was ashamed that I hadn't asked for her name before, and she told me her name was Aileen Seeman with a big smile. What a wonderful thing, to meet a genuine woman of God, one whose worth is more than jewels.

[soulsearcher]

Mike, you have just blessed me with your daily blessing. I believe God stopped you in your tracks just to say, "Be still, and know that I am God - - through this little lady." Thank you so much for sharing, and please keep them coming!

[free]

Thanks Mike...A good lesson for all us to remember.

[JanB]

I am truly blessed by this post. I am so happy the Lord had you to stop and listen.

[Shellie]

Vande,

I loved this post. I absolutely love the old folk. Even the cantankerous ones. I worked in a nursing home for a while and also did some private duty. I LOVED listening to them and could do it all day!!

[Jennifer Smith]

One little Jamaican lady, about 90 we knew would grab onto your hand and sing, "Amen". The other song in her repertoire was "Morning Train" and she had good rhythm!

She would always tell me my hands were cold and she had about 5 layers of clothing on so her hands were always warm!

[Susie Hamilton]

I always enjoy spending time with the senior citizens. They have so much to tell if we will listen and they don't care if you agree with them either.