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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A Time to Dance

I love blogging. I love the internet. But mostly, I love the people it gives me the opportunity to meet.

I think God brings people together for a reason, whether it is on the internet or a chance meeting in a grocery store. He brought Jennifer, Frannie, and I together, to help a little boy none of us have met. As a matter of fact, while I have visited with Frannie for a few months now, it is just recently that I had the opportunity to meet Jennifer, only to discover Jennifer knows Frannie. (If you would like to know more about what we are doing as a result of our online friendship, you can read about it here.)

Not too many days back, I believe God arranged another "meeting." (Actually, I think He has been busy arranging several meetings.) I met Diana. Strange as it seems, I am not sure what lead me to Diana's blog or if she stumbled upon me. For whatever reason, we "clicked".

Earlier this week, Diana wrote a post Learning to Dance. Here are a couple of lines from that post, "Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain."

In the comment I left, I mentioned I once wrote a short devotion entitled, "A Time to Dance." Diana in turn said she would like to read my devotion. I agreed to post it here.

I pray this isn't offensive to anyone, but this is a part of who I am.



A Time to Dance ~

(This is a true experience, but it happened a couple of years ago. ~ Cheryl)

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. ~ Ecclesiastes 1:3

Being a daughter, wife, mother, and now grandmother, I have spent years being the family “goffer”. You know, go for milk & bread, go for parts for the van (you may insert tractor, backhoe, truck, etc. here), go for medications for Mom and Dad, go pick up the kids, ~ years of going. However, as the kids have gotten older, I find rather than being the family “goffer.” I enjoy waiting in the van and being a people watcher. I am content to sit and wait while someone else does the actual “goffer” duties.

A time to be born, and a time to die; ~ Ecclesiastes 1:2A

People’s actions amaze me! Some bring overwhelming joy to my heart. Like watching a new father with a beautiful bouquet and an arm load of balloons. (Yeah, it was that silly grin from ear to ear and that “cocky” walk that give him away.) Sometimes, I am moved to pray. Like for the elderly couple who were trying to assist each other with their packages while getting into the car. I wonder how many years they’ve shared their lives with each other? How many times has he opened her car door and gently held her elbow, steadying her as she got into the car?

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ~ Ecclesiastes 1:3


I’ve witnessed hit and runs (and been asked to give a statement to the court). And I’ve sit and watched as young shop lifters were put into a police car. Praying for them, knowing the call they would be forced to make to their parents would be one of the most difficult tasks they would experience in their young lives. Praying, this single act would be the point of turning their lives around.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ~ Ecclesiastes 1:4

Last Monday, I was buying groceries and was witness to one of the most beautiful expressions of love I’ve ever seen.. There was a young couple, late twenties or early thirties. He was handsome. She was beautiful. His eyes were a reflection of the love in her eyes. He appeared to be worried. She looked frightened. He was pushing the shopping cart. She was sitting down, inside the basket of the cart, with her knees drawn up under her chin like a small child.

As happens when buying groceries, I would see them on one aisle and then meet them again on the next. This would repeat itself and the odd wonder I first felt of seeing a grown woman inside a shopping cart was replaced with awe, because of how much they appeared to care for one another.

Then it happened. We were on the cereal aisle and she said, “I guess we need to find something for me to eat for breakfast.”

He replied, “You never eat in the mornings.”

Her simple answer, “They said I would have too,” stirred my emotions in a profound way.

Was she taking some sort of cancer treatment? I don’t know. I only know this chance meeting was forever engraved on my heart. As I write this, I pray that their time to dance is still ahead. That their future will be filled with both love and laughter. But most of all, I pray they know the amazing love of their heavenly Father.

Each day, everyone of us is presented with the opportunity to pray for someone. It may be for a family member, a neighbor, or even a perfect stranger. This is God’s gift to you, your ministry. In the Book of James, we are told to, “pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much,”

What would the world be like, if starting tomorrow, we silently prayed for those we come in contact with? If when we got up in the mornings, we thanked God for the family He has given us? If we asked Him to bless our husbands, our children and our neighbors? Prayer is such a simple thing to do, with far reaching and profound affect. May each of us be blessed with a ministry of prayer and may we be given the opportunity ~ to dance.

14 comments:

  1. Cheryl...that is a beautiful post! I love the bloggy world, I have met such amazing friends.
    I love your story about the young couple, wouldn't it be wonderful if maybe she was pregnant? I hope that they are well and happy.
    Hugs
    Ma

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  2. Thank you, Cheryl. What a beautiful devotion. You've shared a truth so real...a time to dance with our Father as we meet Him in prayer for those He puts in our paths, whether in our homes or in public. Thank you, dear Sister.

    Dianna

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  3. I'm sorry...I knew I'd forget this. My appointment with the oral surgeon is next Wednesday, November 3, at 11:00. My dentist told me that he really believes it is a fibroma, but he just wants to make sure that there aren't any precancerous cells. My Father knows best and I truly am resting in Him.

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  4. This post should be on the front page of every newspaper. We would all do well to bless our neighbors in our communities, and see them with heavenly eyes.
    What a different kind of world it would be...
    I'm glad YOU'RE out there Cheryl...taking notes, and sending up good thoughts for others.
    I can do this, too.
    Thanks!

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  5. I.Am.In.Tears...that was just so Beautiful...I am so glad I can call you my friend...

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  6. SO wonderful! Thanks for the thoughts to begin my day! We all have a lot to be grateful for, for when we think we have it bad, there's always someone who has it worse and we should love those close to us each and every day! I'm so glad to have met you thru blogging!

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  7. Now, you gals have me in tears...

    thank you for your kind words.

    Diana...I think you meant March 3rd....I understand. I wrote 2002 the other day!

    May each of you have a wonderful day.

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  8. as the top of my blog says (my own personal life quote)
    There is always time to DANCE
    Anytime someone ask me what they can do....I always answer
    Dance

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  9. Wow. What a beautiful post. I have tears in my eyes. While all of it was touching, the part about you watching while you wait and sending up prayers on behalf of others was incredibly convicting. So many times we are bustling about, busy with our own tasks and don't necessarily "see" the needs around us.

    Thank you for sharing this1

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  10. A seriously beautiful post this was..and thank you for posting it:)

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  11. I am in absolute awe at the way you see things and how you expressed something different under each scripture heading. You have a gift. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and inviting me to come check it out. It has blessed me just to read it Cheryl. I love the way you look at things.

    Blessings,
    Sherri

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  12. Cheryl - what a beautiful post. Something to really think about and ponder...

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  13. Your faith is deep and beautiful.

    In my faith we don't ask God for things, we just express gratitude. I try to be grateful every day for all I have. I think it's lovely that you pray for so many.

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  14. Very good!!!

    The very phrase, 'Daning in the rain' has been resounding within me for about a month now.

    I even had the opportunity to counsel a friend by telling her at the end of the email...

    Just get your umbrella and go dance in the rain.

    I have also recently felt the need to ellaborate on that very thought as God has added thoughts and ideas to expound on that very thing.

    Watch my blog and maybe I'll have something there soon.

    But - this is an outstanding blog and one that we should all take to heart and think about frequently.

    N

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