For where two or three are gathered
together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 18:20
Today started out like any other day...but God put something extraordinary right in the middle of an ordinary day. The dictionary defines ordinary as "normal; having no special or distinctive features". When I read the meaning I couldn't help but ask myself if any day is really ordinary? When I stop and study that a little while, I would have to say no, our days are not ordinary. They may be "normal" in a sense that we have our routines and we go about our days in somewhat the same fashion as other days. We want them to be normal in the sense that we don't want to be sick, we want our families safe and sound. We long for normalcy in the midst of pain. We long for routine in the midst of things changing. But when I looked deeper at the meaning and saw that it said ordinary meant having no special or distinctive features, I knew that none of our days should be ordinary. Every day is extraordinary. The key for me is looking for it. Oh, it's always there, the extraordinary, waiting patiently for us to see it and find it and grasp it and love it and soak it up and share it. Today was extraordinary. I saw it. I felt it. I experienced it. I want you to experience it with me.
My mom had an appointment to get a mammogram today. She is 18 years cancer free, Praise Jesus, and today was her yearly exam. Having had breast cancer myself, I know all too well that this day brings about nerves and fears and doubts and flashbacks and memories of a time that was both hard and painful, but beautiful and incredible. God changed my Momma through her journey and He changed me through mine. But this doesn't mean we don't get scared we're going to have to relive it again. I often tell people that I wouldn't trade my breast cancer journey for anything and some don't understand it. But God worked in my life in such ways that I cannot explain it. I saw His extraordinary goodness and grace daily. There have been times I've not felt the same way as I did then. At that time in my life I was so dependent upon God to walk with me, and talk with me and show me His goodness and grace in each day that I was looking for Him in everything I did, everything I saw, every place I visited, every person I met. It's easy to become complacent when you walk out of the journey healed and at times I've found it harder to see Him as much. But it's me...it's ALWAYS me! Why...because I settle for the ordinary. I no longer look and anticipate and wait for the extraordinary. Oh, I long for the extraordinary. There's nothing like it and once you've experienced the extraordinary things given by God, ordinary just isn't enough anymore. But I was reminded today that all I have to do is open my eyes and He will be there. He will show me. Psalm 33:5 says, "the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord".
So my mom and I arrive at the imaging center this morning for her mammogram, and they tell her that they have no orders from the doctor and that it will be a while. They have placed a phone call to her doctor for the orders, but they cannot take her back until they receive these orders. She comes over and sits down with me and our first reaction is, "well, great, how long will this take". Now one of the reasons this is a first response is because when you get to the appointment, you are so ready just to go in there and get the results, no matter what they are. Waiting is hard. Of course, the other reason for this reaction is because we tend to be impatient and we want what we want right now. :) We notice this man and woman sitting over a little bit from us to our right and she has heard the nurse tell my mom that her orders are not there. The lady, who is Louise, says the same thing has happened to her today. She is five years out beyond breast cancer and is there for a mammogram also, but her orders are not there either. Yes, different doctors, same problem. So we begin a conversation with them and learn a little about her story. When we found out she has been cancer free for five years, we say, "Praise the Lord", because we know...we get it...it's a huge Praise to God that we are all sitting in there sharing the same journey, serving a God who chose to heal us all for this moment, for this time, for His purpose. The man said, "Yes, you said the right thing; you said Praise the Lord and all Praise goes to Him". Three words. Praise. The. Lord. Three powerful words. Three words that began a worship session right in the middle of the doctor's office. Three words that turned an ordinary day into an extraordinary moment.
They called Ms. Louise back for her mammogram and we visited a while longer with her husband, who was a pastor. He pretty much preached and we worshiped the Lord right there in the waiting room. We talked and had fellowship as if no one else was around us, and the place was packed. They called Momma to the back and we hated to leave. This man was such a blessing to both of us, and we told him. God ordained this specific time for us to meet each other. I always say I do not believe in coincidences, but I most certainly believe in Godincidences, and that is what this was.
While waiting on Momma to finish her mammogram, I got to visit with Ms. Louise again. She got a good report today, but she is quite nervous because she sees a doctor on Friday about a place on her lung. She's had two brothers and a sister pass away from lung cancer and I could tell she is scared. When she came out of the dressing room, I got up to hug her. I told her I would pray for her and that I would ask my family to pray also. So please pray for Ms. Louise on Friday. She didn't know the way out so I walked her to the door. I opened the door and gave her husband the thumbs up sign and told him we would be praying. This is the moment that is hard to explain...hard to put into words. Ms. Louise stopped walking, turned around and it was as if light just lit up around her entire body. She was surrounded in light. She was beautiful. She turned back to me and blew me a kiss and said, "I love you". I cannot begin to tell you how I felt inside. It was as if she were an angel. God was there in that very moment. He was in our midst and He put us together as if we were family. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 18:1, "After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself". The connection with David and Jonathan was a spiritual connection, a kindred connection, just like we had today. Friends, only God could knit people together so closely in such a short time. Only God.
When Ms. Louise turned back to me and blew me a kiss and I saw light surrounding her entire being, I knew this was an extraordinary moment. Deuteronomy 33:12 says, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders". This is what I saw. I could see Ms. Louise resting on the chest of Jesus. He's got her in his arms, just as He does you and me. What a beautiful picture God gives us in this scripture. Our Heavenly Father carrying us and holding us to his chest. Oh how He loves us. He loves us enough to give us moments like this. He loves us enough to change an ordinary moment into an extraordinary experience. We just have to look for it.
What started out being a delay that had us aggravated turned out to be such a blessing in so many ways, one that I won't soon forget. Hebrews 13:1-2 says, "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels". You never know when or why God will put a special messenger in your path. He put one in our path today and I am grateful my eyes and heart were open to see it. Look for Him...He's always there, carrying you close to His chest just waiting to turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary moment.
I love you all,
Kacey
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