Guardian Angels News

In prayer, God keeps calling us, opening our hearts to charity. ~ Pope Francis

In past years I might have just taken this in stride – of course I pray and listen to God. Of course my heart is open to charity (love). But this past week I had a completely different experience of this. My oldest and dearest friend is in a hospital in Georgia. We didn’t know what was really going on, but we knew biopsies were involved. She has a wonderful faith community in Georgia. But no family or longtime friends.

I was gut-punched by God’s call. I just knew I had to go down to Georgia and be with her. I spoke with her family – which was like my own second family growing up – and they encouraged me. I have a different communication style with my friend than her family does, and they thought my gentler way might be helpful.

What could I do in Georgia? Continue to listen for God’s call – God’s direction. Listen to my heart. For sure I could just be with her. I knew from my husband’s situation before his big surgery that if I were present when doctors came to talk to her, with her permission, a second set of ears could be extremely helpful. This was heavy stuff. Maybe I could relay info to the family, if that were appropriate or scout out places she could go for hospice.

Upon arriving I spent a day or so of wonderful, quiet, peaceful moments with her. I knew I was listening to God’s call. Then God’s call became much less clear. Suddenly, the No Visitors Allowed sign appeared on her door, and for two days I was at loose ends, projecting my needs into the situation, and hurting for her, believing she should not be alone at a time like this! Cancer … Stage 4 … options not promising … her choice to not seek treatment … I was reeling. But then a wonderful stranger I chanced to meet reminded me – she was mourning her own death. She just needed some time and space. God spoke through that caring stranger, and again I was able to listen.

Lots of time in prayer. Lots of time listening to God. Lots of prayer with her friends from her church community down here in the Bible belt. Blessed to have them and know they are here for my friend.

When facing death the mind can go in lots of erratic places – unresolved issues, anger, gratitude, confusion, and more. Each person is unique in their journey. I rode this rollercoaster with my friend, not always on the receiving end of comfortable words, and sometimes even feeling attacked. God helped me know that this was not about me - let go of myself, my friend gets to perceive things however she needs to in this moment, and vent and hurt (not intentionally) even at times. My feelings were not part of this, and I needed to put them aside. I had God’s help through my heart and folks around me. Such an incredibly challenging thing for her to process.

Her faith in God’s presence and love, and how she always listens to God, more than anyone I know, comforts me, and I believe comforts her.

I have prayed more than ever while in Georgia, and will continue to look to God and listen for his voice more diligently than before, I think. Prayer grounds me, challenges me, comforts me, empowers me. Prayer is always opening me up to love, often in surprising ways.

Loving God, help me to pray always, and may my prayer be a listening prayer more often than spoken.

Thank you for always being with me in my heart, so I can look inward to my heart to find you and hear you at any time.

And please dear loving God, provide for my friend whatever she most needs in the moment. 

~ Amen