Joyce

    Isnt it great how our God can take instances in your life and use it time and time again to teach you knew things? That is what I experienced this week with a memory from when I was a little girl.
    It was a Sunday morning and I woke up with a purpose. I went to my dad, still in my pjs, and told him that I wanted to make a card for our neighbor Joyce. Joyce, was not a nice lady. I remember her always yelling at me and my siblings for getting to close to her garden or being too loud during the day. But that morning, I KNEW that I needed to make her a card. So I did. It wasnt an astounding piece of art work in the least; just a little picture of the sun (probably with sunglasses on) and my sloppy, childlike writing that was  illegible. When I approached her door, I had no fear like the previous times in the past (we usually tried to avoid her at all costs). She answered fairly quickly and with a surprisingly kind smile, had me read my card out loud for her. As I looked up expecting a reaffirming smile at my brilliant diction, I saw instead that she was crying. She said to me "thank you so much for that card Paige, I really needed it today. You see, my mom died last night and I am really sad." My heart broke with the idea of anyone's mom dying and I did all I knew to do when someone was sad, I hugged her.
     On my way home, I was ecstatic! I knew God wanted me to write that card for her and I couldnt wait to tell my parents how nice she was! As fast as my "yittle yegs" and slippers would take me, I hurried home to my ever encouraging parents to tell them the story.
     Over the years this story and Joyce has come to mind. For the years after that day Joyce was nothing but nice to us! It was as if a completely new lady had moved in down the street! The change was evident and I never really understood until now. Whenever my dad told the story I would feel the excitement I had that day, knowing that I had done something right. I also patted myself on the back for being "such a sweet kid", but my perception of it was so closed off. The point of the story was not me being sweet or Joyce needing a hug of a child, it was about what God could do. God loves us all individually, but acts for the purpose of the whole community. Our God is so powerful that EVERYTHING He does ripples into more. Through the simple act of obeying His call to write a letter, He began the process of teaching me to hear His voice and taught me an important lesson of who He wanted me to be. And just as my parents were excited for their little girl, so was He - and I could feel it! But He didnt stop there, He melted the heart of an old woman and as far as I could tell, changed her life. It was a BEAUTIFUL act of our God that rippled into mine, my families, Joyces, and who knows how many others lives. That is the God who created us! A God, that comforts you in the least expected ways, that melts your heart with His love, and guides us with His voice. YAY GOD!

Thank you Lord for Your love! A love that never ceases to have a rippling affect! Thank you Father, for always, outrageously loving your children! Amen.