Every Day That I Live....

The Summer has finally come to an end as I sit in my large comfy bed, air conditioning blowing, and my puppy snuggled by my side. The past couple days I have been thinking about this Summer, the memories, the difficulties, the laughs, and the faces I will not soon forget. One face in particular floods my mind every time and almost brings me to tears when I think of her. Her name is Alice, and I could spend all day sitting by her bed in the nursing home, holding her soft, worn hand listening to her stories.

Alice was very ill, unable to leave her bed or room. Every day she would wake up and lay there, receiving her breathing treatments. I learned Alice was an ordained minister, before it was cool for women to do that. : ) As I sat rubbing her hand, her eyes would meet with mine and she would tell me things like "The road is looong and fierce. But follow the Lord and you will win the race!" She would smile big and say that someday our bodies will die, but our souls will go to be with the King!

I asked Alice what her favorite hymn was and with a squeeze of my hand and a smile that lit up all of McDowell county she replied "I am Blessed." Then she began to sing. She sang from the deepest depths of her soul. The part of her soul that has experienced hurt, abandonment, and betrayal. The part of her soul that knows the grief of losing three husbands, and losing her leg in a car accident when she was in her 30's. From the deepest part of her being she belted these words:

I am blessed.  I am blessed.
Every day that I live, I am blessed.
When I wake up in the morning
Till I lay my head to rest,
I am blessed.  I am blessed.

From that same place, deep within the heart and soul of Alice, she has experienced grace and mercy. From that same soul that holds sorrow and grief, she knows what it is like to love and to be loved. Alice knows what it means to be passionately, wildly, uncontrollably in love with Jesus. From the deep parts of her soul she sings of the blessings she has encountered.

Before she was even through that chorus tears stained my cheeks, watching this incredible woman sing about being blessed every day she lives, knowing her time left here is short. I never thought I would feel the presence of the Lord that strongly in an elderly woman's room at a nursing home in McDowell county.

I have shoes for my feet,I have plenty to eat,and a home up in Heaven bye and bye.Brothers and Sisters on this earth;They are mine by my New Birth,and we'll share in that Home beyond the sky.

I can hardly wait to share in that home beyond the sky with Alice. In fact, I hope Alice is on my welcoming committee when I get to those pearly gates. I wish I wasn't 13 hours away from her, as I long to sit by her bed once more to listen to her wisdom and encouragement. But I could leave knowing that I will see Alice again someday. A day when she will no longer know pain and suffering, but will be at the home beyond the sky which she is so anxiously awaiting.