Sunshine On A Cloudy October Day

Have you ever caught yourself in complete awe of God & the little rays of sunshine he so often //if we're looking// allows to shine down on us?  This girl has✋.  In fact, it was just last week I was left speechless with a blessing he sent my way.  

So many people are hurting & going through difficult times in our world.  If you take the opportunity to look closely in your own community, it's astounding at the need you will stumble upon.  I often get the feeling that it is too overwhelming to actually be able to make a positive difference in someone else's life & that always seems to deter me from ever "doing something about it."  How do I feel about that now?  ALL I can say is shame on me!

A couple of weeks ago, I got a message on Facebook <<from a fellow mommy>> mentioning that the Lord had laid it on her heart to make a few things for me & asked if it'd be okay to bring them by once she had them completed.  Right away I was touched that it would even cross someone's mind to do something for us.  Sure, life is a little crazy & unexpected right now-but I couldn't ask for more as we are as healthy as can be & this baby has now stayed put for every goal we set when we first discovered the premature labor risks!  We are so blessed & I *still* for the life of me don't understand why the Lord put us on her heart...but WOW.  I'm so glad he did.

Sure enough, a couple weeks later, she trudged at least an hour through all the heavy rains we had in our area --with her one & a half year old-- to bring Cam & I a little okay a LOT of sunshine in a bag.  Not to mention, I had just learned that, in the past, she had lost two babies of her own, early on in pregnancy.  Talk about feeling humbled.  

Automatically- made Cam's day...a pumpkin & Peanut Halloween coloring book with chocolate??  I mean, what could be better for a two & a half year old.  And for me...the most beautiful fall quilt, mason jar tea light, & sweater pumpkin.  So talented & unbelievably precious!  

But you want to know the most special thing she brought that day?  Her presence.  Her spirit.  Her willingness to give of herself to be a blessing to others.  I know she didn't do it for praise or recognition <<& I pray the Lord blesses her for what an inspiration she was to me through all of this!>> but I had to share her story here in hopes that it would inspire you as it did me.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

Before this special person left, she shared that she had been praying about being able to do something for other people.  <<See?  I'll say it again-->Shame on me...instead of feeling overwhelmed enough to forget about the need-she prayed for help & a way>>.  She went on to tell how the Lord had started opening doors for her to do so.  Man.  God put a desire right then & there in my heart to be more like her!  We were put here to serve others & spread the love of Christ with everyone.  That is exactly what she was allowing the Lord to do through her-even when she had felt hardships of her own in the past.  What an example God sent my way.  I will never forget her kindness & the love of Christ she showed me that day.

In addition to this so very special visit, I have other friends that have called or visited...checked in, sharing their own little dose of sunshine into my life the past 8 weeks.  I can't say it enough--I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful group of people to call friends & family.  I don't deserve any of the love that has been shown to me, but God has allowed it all the same.  And as always, I can't shake the feeling that everything happens for a reason.  I know God planted this time in my life as a way to allow me to grow in my faith & walk as a Christian.  

So now I ask you-Would you do me a favor?  Please pray that I can do more for Christ by sharing this same love shown to me by loving & giving of myself to others?  I have been blessed with the burden & DON'T want it to go away!  May we all find our own little way to spread the sunshine of Christ into each of our little nooks of the world:)