– Monday Muse –
Dear One, our small group does not manage to get together much during the summer. During those months we intend to at least once a month, but it often turns out to be once or twice. So, I was pleased to receive an impromptu invitation for our group to gather for an afternoon of boating, swimming and dining out. Two boats were available, room for all. But as I watched the email replies, it became evident that it was not going to happen. No one but the two hosts couples were free that day.
I appreciated the effort made and the planning involved, firmly believing that the invitation, although declined, was not wasted. Within the offer there was a blessing. Some would not see it that way. And I wondered if our perspective hosts did. I managed to get a hold of one of them.
I thanked her for the thought, the planning and the invitation. Then I shared with her my belief that through the invitation all were blessed. For in the back and forth conversation about why it could not happen many relation-building contacts were made. Nothing was lost, something was gained. Though the event never took place…caring was expressed…and in that, even though we did not get together, we were brought closer together.
I believe that no good effort is ever wasted, even if no one other than God is aware of it. For God is honored by every loving act. In life, when all is boiled down, the purpose of life is to honor and glorify God, and one of the ways we do that is through acts of caring for one another.
Postponed Invitation:
Soon after moving to Traverse City, for Ron to begin his teaching career, we heard from relatives from downstate. They wanted to visit us – just for the evening…for dinner. Dinner? Ron did have a job, and we were grateful for that. But in 1966 his yearly salary was $4,200, and it wasn’t a pay week. To feed our relatives it would cost at the very least – ten dollars, ten more than we had. That was well before the common use of credit cards. We had to ask my aunt and uncle to come at a later date. I couldn’t find any blessings in that until they finally did come. It gave us something to laugh about.
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there
is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
FYI: Newly written Monday Muse essays will now be posted every three weeks.
Blessings,
Susanne
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