The following is a true account. Only the names have been changed.
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Yesterday was my birthday. I did not leave the house, I did not go anywhere, nor did I do anything special, but I received most preciousgifts, some of these unexpected.
My friend Rachel called me in the morning and sang the Spanish equivalent of Happy Birthday into my answering machine. I was not able to pick up the phone at the moment. I was a little surprised that Rachel had called me so early in the morning, which was 8:00 AM California time, where she lives. I figured she had called me before heading out to work.
A couple of hours later, I called my brother for our daily chat, me sitting here in my living room, him driving his Big Mac tractor trailer while talking to me using the truck’s hands free wifi cellular hook up system. We had a conversation about birthdays, getting old, getting achy, laughing about it. We went back home, to Puerto Rico, to our parents now departed, the problems we went through because of our dad’s alcoholism, and here we entered into the providence of God. I reminded my brother how nothing ever happens by chance, that absolutely everything that happens to us, both the good and the bad, happens for a reason and a purpose decreed by the LORD. That it is difficult for us to understand this is another matter. So, as brother drove and we talked thanks to the marvels of technology, we laughed, we reminisced, we reflected, we thanked the LORD, and God was right there with us all the time. Then, brother asked me if he could call back, for he had arrived at his stop to make the delivery. I said sure, but we did not talk again this day.
Shortly after I hung up from talking with brother, the phone rang. Supposing it was him, I picked up and was happily surprised to hear my friend Karen’s voice. She had been going through some stuff for the last couple of weeks, and I was anxious to hear from her to see how she was doing. She sounded good and she told me that things were going pretty well. I was very happy and relieved, and mentioned to her that it was my birthday. She was really happy and gave me birthday wishes. We talked about getting old, but not really, since we ladies have a way of preventing this from happening, and out came much laughter. Then came the heart to heart talk, as we women can talk to one another, and here we shared the encouragement of our LORD, His faithful promises of taking us through the rough times and situations, all the way to the ultimate promise, life in eternity with Him. We wondered once more which will come first, our death or the return of the Christ, but we concluded that, in the end, it really does not matter because, either way, we win. We talked about our husbands, our families, then she had to say good bye. I was left pleased and happy.
About three hours later, the phone rang again. As I approached the phone, I heard this voice on the answering machine singing the Spanish equivalent of Happy Birthday and I asked myself, “Is that who I think it is? No, it can not be!” I picked up the phone but did not say anything, because I did not want to interrupt her singing. She finished singing, and we both started to laugh. “Girl!,” I started to say, but she anticipated me: “Yeah, it has been too long since we last spoke, I know.” Yes, I could not even remember when was the last time that I spoke with my childhood friend Camila. The only thing I remember is that I still had my XP computer and we used Skype to talk. So off we went over the phone, racing with our words, wanting to cram so much into what I was certain was limited time. We talked about getting old, the aches and pains, and not giving in to them. We talked about the ills of society, she from the humanist perspective, me from the Christian perspective. We talked about our families, she gave me some sad news, then she told me that she was sharing with someone something about me in our childhood, something she and I did. I said to her, “Girl, do you still talk about those things with people?” More laughter. In all truth, I had forgotten all about what she brought up from our childhood reminiscing. Then the time came to say good bye. I knew she had to go, I had to go too, but oh, I so much wanted to hold on to her. So we said good bye and I hung up the phone. I was so happy, elated, sad. But most of all, Camila’s phone call left me terribly, terribly nostalgic. Nostalgia covered me like a heavy garment. Outside, as if they were aware of this, and as if wanting to comfort me, the seagulls flew by, loudly sqwawking away so I could hear them. Oh yes, my dear reader, some day I will tell you about the seagulls.
Camila’s call brought so much to me. Her sudden and totally unexpected presence after a long absence. Our reaffirmation of our love for each other, despite the distance and lack of contact. Her so unexpected mention of that naughty thing we did as little girls, growing up together as sisters. The talk about her father, now so old and frail, whom I know so well. My childhood, the little girl I once was, my health, my strength, my sight, some of my childhood friends with whom I had such a rich life and with whom I barely am in contact now. I miss it all, so yes, I am nostalgic. And then there is the future, the tomorrow, the day only the LORD knows everything about. Now how does that go? Here it is:
Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
It is true that I miss the things I mentioned above. It is also true that I can see, really see, what is written in the Scriptures above.
I have always been a fiercely intense human spirit. My preception of the past is strong, sweet, sad and happy, and I am deeply thankful to the LORD for the life I have lived, both the good and the bad. My future in Christ is certain, clear, pure, brightt and inexpressible. My past and my future, both transcendent, both glorious, both sovereignly presided by God Almighty. And in the middle of past and future, there is today. Each today, I live for Him, to do battle, to serve, to minister, to encourage, to pray, to proclaim. Ah, what a life.
As I was having dinner, my cousin Miriam called and left a message. Later that evening, I called Rachel and Miriam. Rachel’s call was brief, for she had things to do, so we joked and laughed about old age, reminisced and got updated. I hung up and called Miriam. She gave me worrisome news about my cousin. We joked and laughed about getting old, I asked her questions about our family tree, we went way back into our childhood and shared many memories.
Sitting on the bed before going to sleep, I could not come up with much of a prayer to my awesome LORD. What could I say? How do you give thanks for perfection? Mere words could not express the intensity and force of the experiences of the day. The people who called after years of separation, the laughter, the optimism, the sadness, the nostalgia, remembering those who have died and things about our childhood and our country. What a treasure trove. And throughout all this, the presence of the LORD who promised me that He would never leave me nor forsake me, the LORD who laughs with me and cries with me, the LORD who created my past and leads me into my future.
My prayer was very brief last night because of lack of adequate words. Afterward, I took out my talking Bible to allow the eloquence and profoundness of the LORD‘s own words to speak to me, and to Himself on my behalf, in lieu of my own words of prayer.
Zoraida
Oh Zoraida: We certainly share the greatest of all gifts, The salvation, sanctification and satisfaction eternal, made possible only in the once for all sacrifice of our gracious Ken Jesus the Christ! (PHILIPPIANS 4:11–13) 11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (JUDE 24–25) 24 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
Hi, my friend. God has so chosen to make you a BLESSING. God Bless. I am blessed because You are My Friend.
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