Another day is quickly coming to an end, another day we have been given to "get it right" another blessing from our Father in heaven to be with the ones we love, to speak of him and his everlasting love for one another, another day we have been given to try and let him know how much we appreciate all of the things he is in our lives!
Tonight I again pray for the ones who are being battered and burned out by the fires in Texas, I can only imagine how weary and tired the firefighters are, how worried and sickened at the devastation that has become of the lands that have been your "solid ground" for so many years, for the pain and heartbreak in those who have lost everything that they held dear! Several years ago, I lost everything I had, not from fire or devastation, but from lack of being able to maintain financially. Every little trinket that my sweet daughter had made me over the years was gone, all of the holiday decorations I had collected for 30 odd years, all of the furnishings I had worked so hard to obtain...gone. Pictures, media, files,,,,everything was seized and I was never able to recover enough to get them back. I remember crying night after night, thinking of all of my "comforts" being handled by others, being auctioned off and what did not sell being donated or thrown away! I cried until I felt there would never be another tear fall from my eyes! One night as I was praying, I felt a wonderful calm come over me, it was as if God had taken me up in his lap and was holding me with both arms wrapped around me, I felt safe, I felt at peace and I felt loved. While sitting and being comforted by him, I felt a word come over me that I will never forget....when I think of it now, it is as if I am back there in his lap being snuggled and comforted....LIFE...that was the word that laid so heavy on my heart! I remember crying even harder because in all of my pain I had forgotten the most important thing for me...I was alive, my daughter was alive, Wayde was alive, John and James were alive and my 3 dogs, cat and bird were alive and no one could take them away from me for lack of finance! I am so thankful that we had friends that were able to take us in and help us until we could be once again standing upright! I think of my "stuff" from time to time but not like I did back then. I lost so many material memories, but my mental memories could not be taken from me, I gained so much more in the process. I learned about true love of friends, I learned that "stuff" can be replaced! I was sad that Wayde and Megan lost their treasures but they learned the lesson as well, as long as we have one another...we are not losing! I pray this evening in the aftermath of loss that each of you can find some quiet time and allow God to pull you into his lap and let him give to you the incredible peace he gave me, I pray that in time your heart will heal and you will see the rainbow that is always at the end of the storm. I pray that "true friends" will be behind you, gently holding you until you can once again stand on your own two feet!
Henry Ward Beecher said..."No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has." I have great love in my heart that spills out wherever I go, I have compassion in my soul for those in need, I have empathy for those who hurt and I have God who shows me when and where I need to be at any given time, so in my mind's eye...I am a very rich person. God bless each of you with your hearts needs this day, may he touch your heart in a way that you have never been touched and may you see what he is in need of you doing!
Be a blessing to someone in need, it is the greatest gift YOU will ever receive. Dawn E. Ashley:) I ask God to bless each and every one of you abundantly, In the name of Jesus our Savior, amen.
As always I invite you to leave us a comment, a prayer request, a special and specific moment in your life that you realized what was most important! If you cannot leave a comment for some reason please feel free to email me at dawfor@msn.com and let me know or leave a message on facebook. I am trying to figure out why this will only except comments from certain guests but I am still having a difficult time with it! Love to each of you!
