FOOD BANK SUGGESTIONS

I've worked at several Food Banks ... and always asked WHY the bags or boxes were filled with stuff low-income families couldn't actually use.

The answer was the Law forbids the Food Banks to supply anything other than what was being packaged.

It burned me up!

It still burns me up.

There has GOT TO BE A WAY to give these families what they really need – and I’m gonna make it my mission to find a way through the nonsensical red tape.

PRAYER IS A LIFE LINE

THANK GOD FOR THAT PERSON That prayed for me!

I would not have survived otherwise.

There were days, in the winter of 2018 following Bob’s passing from this life to the next, that I could barely function ... prayer wasn't even on the agenda. And I am a Prayer Warrior! But, I just couldn't. On those rare days when I tried, all I could eek out was, "Help me, Yeshua. Please. Help me. Thank You."

I was a walking zombie.

For the 1st time in my Christian walk, I was lost.

Floundering.

Drifting.

Missing Bob with a pain so acute and so deep, I numbed myself to survive the loss of his presence in my new life.

I didn't want to feel.

Prayer involves feeling ...

Later in 2019 - in March - when I started venturing out of the house; and started shaking off the numbness, friends (and even strangers neither one of us knew), would hug me and say, "I've been praying for you."

Yeshua had helped me, as I pathetically eeked out in my weak cry for help: He pricked those people's thoughts and opened up their hearts to me - to keep me always in their thoughts and prayers.

Though I was unaware of their prayers, the prayers strengthened me and nourished my soul. They literally saved my life.

I am grateful.

STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

***3 years ago*** 

I didn't feel strong.

Bob's physical body was dying - I was barely holding on; I had to be brave for my husband's sake: so his spirit could confidently leave without being worried about leaving me behind. Alone.

I didn't feel strong.

But people were watching. They saw "a rock" - they missed the hairline fracture that had begun when our nightmare started. They didn't see that the hairline fracture was spreading and deepening. Widening. Undermining everything.

I didn't feel strong.

But people were watching.

And while learning to say goodbye to the love of my life, I began to comfort those around me who also were learning to say goodbye to their loved ones. The young woman, who was her father's choice to make medical decisions for him when he no longer could: through Bob's open room door, I heard her crying and telling the doctor, 'This is SO hard!' ... I kissed Bob's hand, and walked across that hallway, and stood with her while she cried and told the doctor to honor her father's DNR request. I didn't feel strong - but I was her strength, in her hour of need.

Another time (when Bob was being attended to by his nurses who bathed his body and helped him get through the vomiting nausea), I went to the Lounge in the center of the hallway between rooms, to wait until I could be with Bob again and not be underfoot; and a woman, about my age came into the lounge too. I could see she was visibly shaken and trying to keep things together. I put my knitting down, and she sat down next to me. Cautiously, I spoke, saying, "I can see you are pretty shaken; I don't know where you stand concerning prayer, but I am here for you." She grabbed my hand and said, "I am open to prayer; I am a Christian." She told me her situation, and we prayed. I did not feel strong - but I was her strength in her hour of need.

Other times, Yeshua sent people to me. They were my strength when I did not feel strong.

Be open.

Be available.

What seems to you to be a horrible ordeal in your life, is often the very situation where you are needed to be needful to someone else in their situation.

Healing is not always a spectacular event.