Feast of Guardian Angels

Last week Sarah Granger shared a memory from her childhood that illustrated how her mom was a devoted evangelizer. When the phone rang and the caller had mistakenly dialed the wrong number, her mom would insist:

Oh no, you dialed the right number. I’d love to talk to you about Jesus!

Sarah’s tale reminded me of the countless times over the past 16 years I have received calls from strangers who were trying to reach Wal-Mart pharmacy. A week did not pass without at least one wrong number caller. At first I was so annoyed I contemplated changing my phone number.

But as the years passed I softened. I realized it was likely these callers were struggling with a sickness or medical condition. So I began to change the way I responded to them. Rather than a terse & accusatory,  you dialed the wrong number, I would offer a gentle God Bless You after explaining how the caller had inverted the pharmacy’s phone number.

All those calls did not prepare me for today, when I was standing in line at our local Wal-Mart to pick up the third prescription in a week. As the pharmacy tech was entering our Samaritan Ministries membership ID into the computer she admitted she was having déjà vu.

I smiled and nodded my head. Yes, she had helped me a few days earlier when I picked up medicine for another child.  

Earlier today all seven of us were at a doctor’s office in Lafayette. More than once we were asked the typical questions about our children’s medical history:

Any hospitalizations, surgeries, medical conditions, medications, allergies?

We flippantly answered no, no, no, no, no – eager to move ahead to the pressing concerns of the moment.

“Boring,” remarked Dr. Mike with a twinkle in his eye. “That’s a good thing.”

And there it was.

Our family of seven is richly blessed with “boring” medical history – aka vitality and ordinary health.

These past two weeks have been tumultuous --- we’ve suffered a cascade of minor illnesses: 

Headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough, lice, fever, skin sores, stomach virus.

When I am tempted to despair I hear the words of my grandfather assuring me:

 This, too, shall pass.

And, I read the words from Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear: I am with you; 

do not be anxious: I am your God.

The Lord reminds us of His nearness and His tender care for us in the small gestures from our new FMC community:

-        Notes taken for teachings we missed

-        Pediatrician referrals

-        Meals prepared and delivered to our home

-        Thermometer loaned

-        Warm apple cider and homemade banana bread shared

-        Hands laid and prayers for healing offered

There is a longing in my heart for more ordinary days.

Days that follow a regular rhythm of satisfying rest, focused prayer, fruitful conversations and restored health.

But perhaps those days are the extraordinary ones.