I decided to move my mother-in-law from the skilled nursing facility she's been in since December into a small, very nice assisted living center. The paperwork is almost done, and I can go to sleep now certain (as certain as you can be under these circumstances) that she's going to be well taken care of and surrounded by beauty and kind people.
My husband's surgery was rescheduled from last Thursday to tomorrow. After a frantic scramble to find an ER that could replace the feeding tube that came out Sunday, he'll be able to have the procedure knowing that he can let his mouth heal before attempting milkshakes again. He's scared. I'm praying.
An interesting thing happened two days ago. I thought of an old friend who I considered a mentor when I was a nineteen year old nursing student in 1981. We had small group meetings at her house once a week with she and her husband and another couple. We'd read and study the A Search for God material, then meditate. It was a peaceful time in my life. It gave me a good foundation for things to come.
I haven't spoken to her since about 1995 or so, but she was suddenly on my mind. I decided to google and try to find out if she's still alive. Her obituary popped up immediately. Her husband died in 2009, and she followed in 2010 at the age of 87.
I wrote her a little note. I thanked her for the God Calling , a devotional book she introduced me to all those years ago that has meant more to me than anything I've ever read. I have multiple copies of it on my bookshelf and have given many away to friends. I wrote a little more in my note to Penny, and then went to lunch in the employee break room.
I looked over at the table stacked with items for sale. It's been sitting there for weeks, and I've glanced at it a few times. This time I noticed something I hadn't before. A beautiful brown book with the engraved title Jesus Calling.
I read the intro, and the author not only mentions the influence of the God Calling book in her life, but Catherine Marshall's Beyond Ourselves. Both books are meaningful to me. I even included Catherine Marshall in my acknowledgements section of the book I wrote in 1994. I have a long history of thanking those that have passed over!
I asked our bookkeeper if I could order a copy. She said that the order was already faxed earlier in the day, but I could have the one on the table unless the distributor happened to bring along an extra copy the next day when he made his delivery.
I found the salesman sitting with the box of orders the following afternoon. "Did you bring an extra copy of this one?" I asked. "Yes, in fact I did bring one extra with me." "It's mine," I told him.
Wow. This stuff never ceases to amaze me.
I thanked Penny again for continuing to help me and point me to good reading material. Then I had a strong inner push to make the changes for my mother-in-law that I mentioned at the beginning of the blog. I do believe Penny had something to do with that. I just do.
True friendship never dies. Thanks again, Penny, wherever you are! I believe I'm ready for what's next.
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