Today during announcements, one congregation presented me with a quilt. This is something of a tradition there - they make dozens of quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and for every person baptized, wrapping people at home and around the world in their prayers. This quilt for me was a complete surprise. It is blue and yellow, all different floral prints, and the card said, "May this quilt remind you that after the rain comes beautiful flowers."It's big enough to go on my hospital bed, which was their plan. I held it together for the quilt portion, but when I read the card, I cried. And when I looked up, half the congregation was dabbing at their eyes! They were so happy to do this for me, and I was thrilled to receive their love. What a blessing to be here.
At the other church, a couple folks approached me and said they had this idea: they would meet in the lobby of Strong with members of both churches, at the hour of my surgery, and pray for me. Wow! I was so touched by that! What a wonderful thing to know that all those prayers would be ascending toward the surgery unit, right at the very moment I go under. Have I mentioned what a blessing it is to pastor these congregations??
Also, just for the record, I got more hugs today than I could possibly count, including several from kids, and I even got a couple kid kisses. Yes! One of my sweet kiddos pulled me aside to tell me she was really going to miss me while I was gone, and it made her really sad. I said I hoped she would visit me, even at home, and that she would turn her worries into prayers for me. She said she would do both, and I believe her! My heart was just so full by the end of all this today. I can't say enough how overwhelmed I am with love.
Beautiful blessings in the dark.
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