Author Archives: Patricia Ann

Minding God’s Own Business

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There are times we walk around looking at the ground, totally unaware of what’s going on around us. There are also times when what’s going on around us makes us think we should just mind our own business, and not get involved in whatever the occurrence might be. And then there are times when getting involved is just the right thing to do.

Chapter Thirty-One  –  Minding God’s Own Business

I visited Jerry daily in hospital when he was admitted on July 31, 2004, with Parkinson’s disease, and the onset of Alzheimer’s. As I wheeled him to the TV room one evening after dinner, I noticed an old gentleman in a geri-chair in the hallway. He was very agitated, and trying desperately to climb out of the chair. It had a high back, widening wing-like at the top. A wrap-around tray prevented him from getting out. His son tried to spoon-feed him but he refused to eat, shouting that he wanted to go home. Normally, I would have passed by, minding my own business, but I was drawn to these two. I stopped and told the younger man that Jerry had recently gone through that phase, and assured him it does get better. I then spoke to his father.

“Hi there. How are you tonight?”

“You look pretty good,” he said, forgetting his agitation for the moment.

“You look pretty good yourself,” I answered, “and I love your chair. It looks like it has wings.”

“Yes, and I’ll fly away.” he said…….

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 28:40)

Tomorrow  –  The Final Breath  –  A Lesson in Dying

Writing Through the Rage

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When stress is mismanaged it can be a catalyst for disease, disfunction and depression. There were times when I didn’t handle stress too well and it did take its toll on my health.

Chapter Thirty  –  Writing Through the Rage

I felt a wave of nausea in the pit of my stomach, and realized just how stressed I really was. I wished I could admit myself to a hospital, get a private room, and cry until there wasn’t a tear left in my body. I must write through this, I thought frantically, knowing how close I was to losing it altogether. I drove to a nearby mall, bought a notebook and pen, and sat down with the hot chocolate and tea biscuit.

As I began to write, I noticed the people strolling the mall. An elderly couple walked hand in hand, arms entwined, accentuating their togetherness. It touched my heart. Jerry hardly knew who I was anymore. A teenage boy and girl jostled each other affectionately. Their easy banter reminded me of the many times we had laughed and joked together in the comfort of our relationship. A little boy, about two years old, gave me a twinkling smile as he toddled past, his mother close behind. Jerry and I had raised separate families, but enjoyed the thrill of watching our many grandchildren meld into our lives over the years. Three times I smiled at what I saw, and that was good. I realized in that moment that I always managed to smile through my tears and heartache— that was God……

The Lord is my shepherd…he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1,3)

Tomorrow  –  Minding God’s Own Business  –  A Lesson in Service

The Way I See It

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There are many times in life when it (your life as you know it) just comes to a halt…not death…just a halt. It happened to me in 2004.

Chapter Twenty-Nine  –  The Way I See It

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  (John 15:13)

The way I see it, this doesn’t mean that you trade places with the guy tied to a railway track with an oncoming locomotive barreling down on him¾ or with Jesus on the cross.

In 2004, I worked three days a week at the Canadian Bible Society book store. It was a part-time job that I loved, and had done for close to five years after my forced retirement from the Mustard Seed Gift Shop. It was a perfect match for my spiritual beliefs, retail background, and love of books.

Volunteering at Providence Health Care Centre every Tuesday morning was another activity I loved.

Lunch or coffee with friends or family was also a weekly occurrence. At church, I was a member of the Worship Committee, and sang in the choir.

That life gradually changed when Jerry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease…..

“….whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

Tomorrow  –  Writing Through the Rage  –  A Lesson in Stress

A Mouse in the House

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I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with mice at one time or another. They have an uncanny habit of inhabiting even the grandest of homes. Normally, I had no trouble catching the little creatures, but one in particular proved to be a problem.

Chapter Twenty-Eight  –  A Mouse in the House

Before Zoe came to us, Jerry and I had an unwelcome house guest — a mouse! I called him Mercury because he was as elusive as the substance in a pre-digital thermometer. Have you ever broken a mercury thermometer and tried to clean up the spill? It’s tricky.

I truly believe the little beastie had been to mouse school. He knew every trap in the book, and every food in the trap. At breakfast, the bait was a bit of peanut butter. It was still there at lunch time, so I replaced it with a piece of cheddar cheese. Meat loaf was his choice for dinner. None of these foods whetted his appetite, and I wondered what he was living on………

….the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:24)

Tomorrow  –  The Way I See It  –  A Lesson in Laying Down Your Life

A Pet Named Zoe

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So many pets had come and gone in my life, that I vowed not to have another one after our last pet, “Kelly, the dog”, went to doggie heaven. It just hurt too much to lose them. Such was not the case, as this next chapter will reveal.

Chapter Twenty Seven  –  A Pet Named Zoe

Zoe was no ordinary cat. She was born in a fishing shack on the shores of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, the last of a litter of six kittens waiting for a home.

Two old fishermen had looked after the kittens since they were born, and they were not pleased to have one left.

Zoe was always underfoot, sniffing out the fish. With a shrug of their bony shoulders, the fishermen decided to get rid of her. She’d make a good meal for someone.

A little girl who had just arrived in Hong Kong from Canada was looking for a pet. Amberley, a slender, blond youngster with legs like a colt, and a frisky personality to match, was walking with her parents and siblings, getting to know their new surroundings, when they saw the fishing shack in the distance. Curious, Amberley scurried ahead to check out this strange looking building. Her parents called words of caution after her. The child poked her head in to investigate the shack, and heard, meow, meow, meow.

“Mom! Dad!” she squealed in delight, “over here, quickly, please!”

….some people have entertained angels….(Hebrews 13:2)

Tomorrow  –  A Mouse in the House  –  A Lesson in Resignation

What’s in a Photograph

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Sometimes when we see photographs of another person’s journey, we get that I wish I was there feeling; not out of envy but of keen interest. A friend’s visit to the Holy Land prompted such a feeling in me.

Chapter Twenty-Six  –  What’s in a Photograph?

She was a sales rep for a company selling beautiful posters, and I saw her in my gift shop on a regular basis.

It soon became evident that we had a common bond in spiritual interests. Her name was Jennifer, and she had just returned from a vacation in Jerusalem, the Holy City.

Before her trip, Jennifer promised to bring back photos, and true to her word, she arrived at the shop with a stack of pictures for me to see.

I listened to her description of each interesting photo, but one in particular appeared to be just a hole in a cave.

As I held the picture, waves of tingling energy surged up and down my arms…….

….the hair on my body stood on end. (Job 4:15)

Tomorrow  –  A Pet Named Zoe  –  A Lesson in Pet Sitting

Give Me a Break

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We sometimes need a break from the overload of our daily agendas. When I became so overwhelmed, I actually prayed to get a break from it all.

Chapter Twenty-Five  –  Give Me a Break

While shopping one evening, I spied a book with the title, Slow Me Down Lord. I promptly bought it, enjoyed reading it, and made that my daily prayer.

Not long afterwards, I slipped on the lunchroom floor at work, and landed flat on my back. The pain was excruciating! X-rays showed a fractured tailbone. The treatment was to stay off my feet, and complete rest for two weeks; doctor’s orders¾ or God’s?

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Tomorrow  –  What’s in a Photograph?  –  A Lesson in Sensations

 

Dancing on a Prayer

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How many times have we said to our children, in frustration, “Do as you’re told!” How many times have we, as adults, been given instructions by a doctor (in other words, do as you’re told) only to disregard their advice? After cataract surgery in my fortieth year, I did just that. “Recuperate quietly with no abrupt movements,” the surgeon said.

Chapter Twenty-Four  –  Dancing on a Prayer

There was a party going on in the neighborhood, and I thought it would boost my morale to be with my friends. I told myself I would just sit quietly in a corner, listen to the music, and enjoy some light-hearted conversation.

My toes were tapping to the music in no time. I loved to dance. Soon I was slowly swaying to the music. Surely a little bit of slow dancing wouldn’t hurt. The music became a little more up-tempo, and my body moved to the new beat. Then, the pace picked up even more, and caution was thrown to the wind as my feet found a mind of their own. Disco and jive proved no challenge as the evening wore on. I had such good fun! (But what were the consequences?)

The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life….Psalm 121:7

Tomorrow  –  Give Me a Break  –  A Lesson in What You Pray for

The Gift of Faith

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Our Faith can be likened to a muscle; if it isn’t exercised, it will atrophy. While exercising my muscles does not necessarily bring me pleasure, exercising my faith brings me not only pleasure, but great joy.

Chapter Twenty-Three  –  The Gift of Faith

In 1977, a banner heralding the message, I’ve found it! You can find it too! had been hanging in my eldest son’s room for several weeks.

Dann had left the poster behind when he went to live with his dad. I often wondered what it meant, but didn’t give it too much thought until one evening, Kelly, who was ten, and had taken over his brother’s room asked, “Mom, what does that sign mean?”

“I don’t know,” I said, “but somehow I’ll find out.”

Just then the phone rang. It was a soft-spoken woman who asked me a question.

“Have you seen a sign around with the message, ‘I’ve found it, you can find it too’?”

The hairs stood up on my arms……..

If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)

Tomorrow  –  Dancing on a Prayer  –  A Lesson in Carelessness

The Still Small Voice

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To me, it is astounding what we hear when we open ourselves to listening for more than life’s day-to-day babble. “Faith comes by hearing” are not empty words.

Chapter Twenty-Two   –  The Still Small Voice

Not long after the first experience, which inspired my resignation from my job at the hospital, I received some spiritual literature in the mail that was very thought- provoking. To this day, I don’t know what that material was, but one passage in particular prompted me to contact a dear friend who was in a life-threatening situation at that precise time. She was experiencing an extremely toxemic pregnancy.

It was her mother who answered my call, and told me that my friend, Anna, was in hospital at that moment, in grave danger of losing her life, and also the baby she was giving birth to……

….and after the fire a still small voice….(1 Kings 20:12 KJV)

Tomorrow  –  The Gift of Faith  –  A Lesson in Believing