Encouraged About an Old Soulmate

I had just received word about Meredith who has been living at a bird sanctuary 32 miles away from me, formerly my pet for the first 25 years of his life, that he was ill. It sounded like he was about to exit this world. I wasn't ready for that although I was already sensing something was going on with him.

So I asked God to allow me more time with him. As it was, I was feeling badly for not visiting him more often, though I had good reasons. I had car issues and commitment to school.

But on the way to visiting him yesterday, enduring the wind and rain on the highway, I asked God for a turnaround in Meredith's health. I had to no longer entertain the thought that he was about to die, but that he could have extended life. I thanked the Lord and saw a rainbow grace the sky in the direction where he is living. I wish I could have pulled off the highway to take a picture of it. It was perfect, and too good to be a mere coincidence! That gave me great hope and joy that God heard my prayers. That felt special to me!

When I arrived and saw his cage on the table, I was hesitant about approaching him. But after setting my things down, I got a better look at him. It was hard at first and he didn't look well. But with a few moments of interacting with him, he seemed to perk up and eat and drink. He allowed me to stroke his head, although not at first. But once he warned up to me, he made the sounds he used to make when getting his neck rubbed.

This encouraged me and revived my faith which had seemed to fade away. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness! ♥️

 

Update tonight:

This is nothing short of a miracle, given the bird's age and his condition when I first heard about this and saw him weak, unstable on his feet, and shivering! Now he has his life back!

Thief on the Cross

In April 2004 while making a move from Denver to Glenwood Springs, just 160 miles apart, I was saying my goodbyes to people I had known throughout the many years I lived in Denver, particularly in the building I lived in for fifteen years. My neighbor Karen Wilson with whom I didn't always get along, who was rough around the edges, left me a very touching note by my door, wishing me well in my move.

Well, I was prompted to respond with a gift. I gave her a hat I bought on my first visit to Glenwood Springs back in 1980. It was a woolen knit hat made in Italy. I was very fond of it although I rarely wore it. It was off-white with stripes of fuchsia in various tones. I hesitated giving it up. But I knew that I knew that I was supposed to give it to Karen who was very sickly at the time, although she was not that much older than me. I didn't know what she was suffering from. But with difficulty, I released the hat.

Then, a few months later I was impressed to send her a card which I finally did. But just previous to that, I kept hearing "thief on the cross," not knowing who that was referring to. I thought it might be my father who had ostracized me. I was clueless at the time.

Some time had passed since I mailed the note to Karen. I had pretty much forgotten about it. Then one day in July that year, it appeared in my mailbox unopened. It had some handwriting on it as to why it was returned. It said, "Deceased." I was in shock and overcome with grief.

I ended up still going into work that evening as scheduled. I paced the floor where I was working in sorrow. Then, I heard what I believed to have been the Holy Spirit asking me, "what are you so grieved about?"

I was a bit taken aback by that. I responded, "I'm saddened about Karen."

Suddenly, I remembered the words, "thief on the cross." I then understood who that message was referring to. My countenance changed that instant from downcast to peace and joy. God is faithful!

Then, years later when I finally moved to the Bay Area, I found a cream-colored hat of the same style and fiber as the one I gave to Karen. Only this time, it's more of a tan tweed and mostly solid color. I still miss the other one, but was pleased to find this one at a bargain.

Thank You, Lord, for your faithfulness!