Again, Merry Christmas to you, GeorgeAnn. Yes, I believe I have experienced God's love directly in two instances. The first was when I was in the Navy on Guam. I was feeling lost and lonely. The Holy Spirit came to me one night and said to me, "Don't be afraid, you will be rewarded." It was like I was having a conversation with the Holy Spirit. That conversation carried on for many days afterward. I felt happy and relieved. The second instance was as I wrote in my Substack post, My PET Scan. In both instances the feeling of overwhelming love was present.
Our Christmas tree is really a memory tree spanning more than 50 years. We have Elizabeth's ornaments on the tree. Their presence makes me feel that she is still here with us.
Thanks for sharing this Richard. I love that we can share how God has blessed us and seen us through the difficult times. May you have a blessed and wonderful new year. God bless you and your family.
Deeply touching GeorgeAnn. When our son died, a friend of a friend reached out. His son had passed as well. He told me that I would begin to believe in things I never would have before. He was right. Those moments when it feels like our loved ones are near us in every way except the physical, we know they are. Loved your telling about the candle and music box. One Sunday during communion, I asked God if it was ok to bring John Robert near. I didn't even know if it was ok to ask, but like a child, I just lowered my own barriers. For a moment, every hair on my body stood straight up, and I felt that he was so close. I believe he was - whether anyone else believes it or not. But if God is always near, and if our loved ones are with him, then we can know that at times the veil is thin, and we can find assurance ...even if nothing more than a dragonfly that won't leave us alone or a cardinal that stays near when we can't explain it. Well, now my face is wet ... I'm so glad you shared this. Some memories are buried deep and we need to bring them up from time to time.
Thanks John, I am so glad that I am not alone in feeling this. If God knows the number of hairs on our head, He knows how to answer our prayers in tender and reassuring ways that we will understand.
Every time my wife sees a cardinal outside, she believes it's her late mom checking on us. Went on a trip to a cottage on the Jersey Shore a couple months ago and the first thing we saw looking out the kitchen window was a cardinal. So we knew it would be a nice time away.
Again, Merry Christmas to you, GeorgeAnn. Yes, I believe I have experienced God's love directly in two instances. The first was when I was in the Navy on Guam. I was feeling lost and lonely. The Holy Spirit came to me one night and said to me, "Don't be afraid, you will be rewarded." It was like I was having a conversation with the Holy Spirit. That conversation carried on for many days afterward. I felt happy and relieved. The second instance was as I wrote in my Substack post, My PET Scan. In both instances the feeling of overwhelming love was present.
Our Christmas tree is really a memory tree spanning more than 50 years. We have Elizabeth's ornaments on the tree. Their presence makes me feel that she is still here with us.
May God bless you and your family.
Thanks for sharing this Richard. I love that we can share how God has blessed us and seen us through the difficult times. May you have a blessed and wonderful new year. God bless you and your family.
Deeply touching GeorgeAnn. When our son died, a friend of a friend reached out. His son had passed as well. He told me that I would begin to believe in things I never would have before. He was right. Those moments when it feels like our loved ones are near us in every way except the physical, we know they are. Loved your telling about the candle and music box. One Sunday during communion, I asked God if it was ok to bring John Robert near. I didn't even know if it was ok to ask, but like a child, I just lowered my own barriers. For a moment, every hair on my body stood straight up, and I felt that he was so close. I believe he was - whether anyone else believes it or not. But if God is always near, and if our loved ones are with him, then we can know that at times the veil is thin, and we can find assurance ...even if nothing more than a dragonfly that won't leave us alone or a cardinal that stays near when we can't explain it. Well, now my face is wet ... I'm so glad you shared this. Some memories are buried deep and we need to bring them up from time to time.
Thanks John, I am so glad that I am not alone in feeling this. If God knows the number of hairs on our head, He knows how to answer our prayers in tender and reassuring ways that we will understand.
God is so good 😊
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CvIxwc90BEI
Thank you for sharing this 💕
This is a beautiful share from your heart. With you, I take refuge in the shadow of [His] wings"--the only safe place.
Every time my wife sees a cardinal outside, she believes it's her late mom checking on us. Went on a trip to a cottage on the Jersey Shore a couple months ago and the first thing we saw looking out the kitchen window was a cardinal. So we knew it would be a nice time away.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you GeorgeAnn,
Here is a wee story just for you
Who's your Daddy? (A true story!)
Dear reader, after reading this wonderful story, please commit yourself to
sending this to at least one person you know who has had "father" issues. It
truly is amazing how a small story or a few words can literally change a
person's life. I'm dedicating this message to my father who is presently
dying of cancer. He had a heart attack this morning and there is a good
chance he won't recover. Please pass this on to at least one person in his
honor either via email, by hand or mail. Thanks, Gary Amirault
Who's Your Daddy?
A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One
morning, they were eating breakfast at little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a
quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a
distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting
with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, "I
hope he doesn't come over here." But sure enough, the man did come over to
their table. "Where are you folks from?" he asked in a friendly voice.
"Oklahoma," they answered.
"Great to have you here in Tennessee." the stranger said. "What do you do
for a living?"
"I teach at a seminary," he replied.
"Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really
great story for you." And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat
down at the table with the couple. The professor groaned and thought to
himself, "Great... Just what I need another preacher story!"
The man started, "See that mountain over there pointing out the restaurant
window. Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an
unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he
was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' "Whether he
was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same
question, 'Who's your daddy?'
He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students. He would avoid
going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. "When he was about
12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late
and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'. But
one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had
to walk out with the crowd.
Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing
anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's
your daddy?' The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in
the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the
question, 'Who's your daddy'. This new preacher, though, sensed the
situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could
give, said the following to that scared little boy
'Wait a minute!' he said. 'I know who you are. I see the family resemblance
now. You are a child of God. With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and
said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'
With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out
the door a changed person. He was never the same again.
Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a
Child of God'." The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said,
"Isn't that a great story?"
The professor responded that it really was a great story!
As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know, if that new preacher hadn't
told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have
amounted to anything!" And he walked away.
The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress
over and asked her, "Do you know who that man was who just left that was
sitting at our table?"
The waitress grinned and said, "Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's
Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!"
Hope you enjoyed it.
Denis
😍 Love it. I remember hearing the story but forgot about the Ben Hooper part. Thanks so much for sharing.
I feel, see GODS Love n assurance over us daily as we walk this cancer journey. Thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome. Prayers for you to continue to feel God’s presence and strength, and to see His blessings and grace.