Thank You

This has been a rough week for me. This morning, my husband and I attended the funeral of a friend of many years. We went to church with this man's family for six years and his younger daughter and my son were good buddies from first grade through college. It was a bittersweet time of saying good-bye, encouraging my friend, his wife, and for me - watching the flag folded for the last time in honor of his military service. That was so hard as it brought back the haunting memory of watching the honor guard do that at my dad's funeral.

Many people we went to church with for a long time were there. It was a special time to see them and catch up a little on them and their families. As we turned to leave, one young woman stopped me and told me she wanted to thank me for teaching her Sunday School class when she was in the 7th and 8th grades. She told me how much she appreciated the letters I wrote her and the way I conducted the class and that she patterns her own Bible Studies after it.

Wow! What an unexpected blessing. And this week when I've been feeling like an utter and complete failure for the example I led for someone I love very much for her entire lifetime, I am grateful that occasionally, I did something right. I am humbled to know that I touched this woman's life in a lasting way, and yet that was my prayer all those years ago. In fact, when God called me to teach that class, I didn't want to do it. (I told people I asked Him, "Are you sure you got the right number?") Many times I have said that girls between the ages of 12 and 15 should be left on a deserted island until they return to "human" at age 16. I never dreamed I would ever see any fruits of those years, but God knew I needed some encouragement today. And He gave it to me in an unexpected place from an unexpected source. How I thank Him for that.

The young woman I wrote about earlier this week shared with me today that she has received God's peace in her situation. I am grateful for that as well. I believe in His promises to her and I believe if she will Wait for Him, she will be rewarded.

Be sure and thank God today for the blessings He brings to your life. They are all around us, if we will stop to see them.