[Faith-talk] {Spam?} Daily Thought for Thursday, June 2, 2016

[Paul Smith]

Hello and greetings to most of you for the second time today.  Of 
course for you in Australia and New Zealand, it's already your Friday 
as this message is being written.  At any rate I hope that your day is 
going well, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

Have you ever been engaged in doing mundane and routine things around 
your house or apartment, when, all of a sudden, the urge to visit 
someone you really are very close to hits you? Well, for all practical 
reasons, if this person doesn't live fairly close to you, the best way 
to do this, in my opinion, is to pick up the phone and call him/her.  
Maybe you've been in a situation whereby it would be so good if someone 
would either visit or phone you.  I've personally been on both ends of 
this topic.  If I've observed female psychology at all, I understand 
that ladies are much more prone to talk out their true feelings with 
other ladies than we guys do.  Anyway I say all this because Audrey 
Carli from Michigan has a contribution written along this line.  
Entitled "Why My Rush To Visit Beth?", it is rendered as follows:

I woke up in the gray dawn with my middle-aged friend Beth in my 
thoughts.  I sensed she was weeping, her blue eyes tear-filled.  I 
realized she had fresh grief for her late husband, John.  When we had 
met for lunch at our local family restaurant, she said that when she 
looked at wedding, anniversary, birthday and holiday photos, sadness 
often engulfed her.

She smiled and said she would soon adjust.

We both knew that others had also adapted to being alone.  And we 
realized our faith would keep us going.  We agreed that prayer 
strengthened us.  Thus, our visits ended with, "You will be in my prayers."

So why was Beth on my mind with the urgency to visit her that morning?

Whenever she and I had met for lunch at the Family Corner Cafe, we had 
agreed our visits eased sadness and enhanced tranquility.  Thus, each 
visit concluded with a prayer for each other.

I kept busy by dusting the living room end tables.  Suddenly, I knew I 
must visit my friend! So I tossed down my dust cloth and hurried to my car.

While driving, Beth's recent temporary move came to my mind.  She had 
sold the family residence before her planned move to her hometown, 
Milton Falls, a two-hour drive away.  However, her new hometown 
residence would not be ready for a month.  That was why she had moved 
to a furnished upper flat until she could return to Milton Falls.  She 
had not ordered a land line telephone for that brief time.  She would 
get a cell phone after moving to her new address.

After parking my car beside Beth's temporary home, I knocked hard at 
the stairway entry door.

Quickly, she descended the stairs and welcomed me.  Her tear-wet eyes 
beamed.  "I prayed for a visitor! It's a special day--and I miss John a lot."

After we ascended the steps, we sat in two facing chairs--and prayed.  
We expressed gratitude for the nudges that sent me to visit Beth on her 
sad day.

After a tea break and chat, we prayed thanks for our visit and why that 
day had been extra lonely.  "It's John's and my wedding anniversary."

We prayed thanks for the years we had our devoted husbands.  Now that 
they were gone, we were blessed with our friendship.  Our mutual 
prayers could link us--and offer comfort before and after our visits.

Beth said their pastor often taught them to pray for their needs as 
well as for others.  "He emphasized the short verse in 1 Thessalonians 
5:17, Pray continually" (NIV).

It had become clear why Beth had been in my earlier thoughts and I felt 
the urgency to visit her.

Reading this article from three years ago reminded me of an incident 
back in 2003.  For several years I had been in phone contact with Belle 
Mills of Birmingham, Alabama, whom I had met over the old E-Voice 
system.  (Perhaps some of you remember that).  We were so close that 
for the last year we were on this phone chatline, she paid for my time 
with her credit card, as I didn't have one at the time.  Well, in 
February of 2003 my late Mom had to be taken to hospital and a nursing 
home, and this was the first time I was without anyone in the house.  
One Saturday evening, feeling so lonely, I was about to end it all by 
taking an overdose of pills when Belle called me on the phone.  I can 
still remember her exact words:  "Don't do that, because I've been 
where you are right now." And it's a good thing that God led her to do 
what she did, otherwise I wouldn't have met so many fine and wonderful 
people, and I wouldn't be here today.

If anyone knows where or even how I can get in touch with her, I'd 
really appreciate it, if anyone reading these lines knows her.  Of 
course it would be proper to ask her permission before contact is made. 
Just want to touch base and catch up on the news.  She is probably 
married, so her husband's OK might also be good to get.

And that will do it for today's Daily Thought message and article.  
See, I told you it would be considerably shorter.  Until tomorrow when, 
Lord willing another such article will be posted, may the God of 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and 
collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian 
friend and brother, Paul