Things have been a bit hectic around here since Christmas. To be brief about it all, here's what's happened...
*Started teaching part-time with a new institution - at two different schools.
*The Husband has been running like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to keep up with the classes he's teaching and all the extra committees and program development issues for his degree plan.
*The Wee One started preschool and though she has LOVED it, it helped spur a multitude of emotional/developmental adjustments.
*I found out I was pregnant....and then had a missed miscarriage (working on a post specifically related to some things there, but just haven't figured out how to word all of what I want to say).
*Found a house and are in process of buying it - our first house.
So, as you can imagine, it's been kind of crazy around here. The miscarriage in particular has brought a few issues for me and I'm pretty sure that's a major part of what was hitting yesterday.
Yesterday I was dealing with some relatively serious moodiness and really struggling with my mood. As I was driving to teach my morning class, I was praying that God would give me the strength to handle the day and help me alter my mood.
At a couple of points along my route there are homeless people set up with their signs asking for assistance of any kind. If I have any cash on me, I am usually the person who will slow down to pass over a buck or two. I figure I will probably just end up buying a Coke or some other thing I don't need and so I just say a prayer that this small gesture will help the person and pass over the cash. Yesterday, I was the one who was helped.
At the final stop light before the school, I was stopped at the light and there was an older man at the corner. I had some money and so I got it out to give to him. He was a weathered old man with a HUGE smile. I rolled down the window and the first thing he said was, "Good morning sweetheart. Aren't you pretty? Having a good day?"
My mood immediately started getting better.
Since I was at the light and had a minute, we chatted. He asked where I was heading and I asked how he was doing. At one point he said, something (can't remember exactly what it was) that made me respond, "We gotta pray for that, right?"
His response - as he reached out and patted my hand - "Keep praying, honey. God will take care of you."
Then the light turned green, so I said thank you and God Bless (and meant both very much!). This man, who has obviously, for whatever reason, lived a much harder life than I have, was the perfect encouragement to change my day and alter my mood. I was deeply touched and even as I typed this up today, I can feel the warmth that that exchange brought into my life. How wonderful of my God to put this man in my path and how great a testament to His love in how he can use the most unexpected source to show that love and support.
Here's a song that I think of often that I feel fits this situation well...
