I have had an interesting four days. It started with a special day at work as a substitute teacher. I was surprised, by the school secretary, with a sudden midday switch from an upper elem. special ed class that I know well, to a group of three to five year olds who I didn't know, and are severely impaired. It was just the start I needed to an unusual weekend. The afternoon group was exhausting, but they captured my heart. They are all so sweet.
Thursday night I had my Girl Scout troop meeting to run. Friday I taught 7th grade social studies, and Friday night I had a Boy Scout event. All the while I was getting messages on my machine about my husband's grandfather (with whom we are very close) being in the hospital. I was playing phone tag with my in-laws and couldn't get much information until late Friday night.
The conversation Friday night made it clear to me that I needed to drive to a hospital two states away, this weekend, with my kids, but not my husband. We woke up Saturday morning, grabbed some clothes, made some quick arrangements for the care of our pets, and headed 4 1/2 hours South.
On the way I had a great conversation with my six and nine year old about dieing, God, and the purpose of life. We arrived at the hospital just in time to say, "we love you, Grandpa". He died about ten minutes later. Grandpa had waited until his only great-grandchildren could be there before he went to be with our Lord.
It was a flurry of activity for me starting with Thursday's unexpected sweethearts. They were, and are, still on my mind. I think their easily expressed love and innocence somehow covered me with a sense of peace and feeling that our God, who Is Love, is always right there with me. That He has a great plan for us to love each other and that His plan is perfect and He makes no mistakes.
I felt that God spoke through me all weekend. Grandpa's son, my uncle-in-law, had many spiritual questions for me. I felt myself fall away and let God speak to him and answer his questions using my mouth. I'm so blessed that the Lord was able to use me in that way. God is good.