A Day to Remember

Thursday started off normal enough.  Alarm ringing, itchy eyes, stuffy nose, sleeping husband and baby. 

I prepped the third Genetics lab of the week, then settled in for office hours.
My friend came to me visibly upset, and that turned to crying.  Sharing with her brought me to a place of confusion and heartache I have known too-often in my past.  I wanted to do something, but I had no idea what I could possibly do for her.  So, I thought about her in my office hours.

As I was there, I was waxing nostalgic- as I often do.  It is a hazard of my personality.  I then got onto Facebook- which let's face it, is really the only way I can keep up with my friends outside of work, my family, and especially my adorable nieces and nephews.  I posted a prayer request in one of my secret groups- Sisters in Christ.  It went something like this:

I need a confidant and mentor. Who is up for it? I have a deep, deep testimony of Jesus Christ and that he died for the worlds' sins. I know it, probably MORE than I know anything else. I am GREATLY struggling with so much in my current church, but I am bullied into feeling guilty about any questions or concerns I have. The truth is, it sends me to seek on my own and the more I seek, the more I learn, and the more disconnected and freaked-out I feel. I need someone to talk to in a deep, spiritual way.

Then, I went to lunch with my 2 work-study students. They had never been to the place I chose, and we had such a great conversation together.  
 

I never have time for lunch, and I don't eat breakfast, so the days at work are pretty hard sometimes.  It does save money, however.  This day though, it took lots of planning, so I got lunch and I am so grateful.  The rest of my day was much better not being hungry.


Then, it was time to administer an exam.  I spent the first hour writing to my upset friend in from the morning, words of comfort from a deep place of Knowing (note capital K) and offered her my shoulder, my words, and my friendship always.  I sealed it in an envelope, and posted it on her office door.


Back in the exam room, a student not mine, was really struggling understanding the wording of many questions, so I restated them to him.  I am familiar with this problem, as I had a student at Mary Baldwin who went from failing one of my courses, to ace'ing it- all because I read the questions and restated some of the terms to her.  It is hard to answer a question when you are not even sure what is being asked.  I told the prof about this and he told me this morning, that student got a 95.  I am astonished.


Then, I left work, and at the crosswalk, I found my friend- to whom I had written.  She told me thank you for the note and I reminded her to come to my house that night.


I then picked up yummy cupcakes, which I shared with my little family, my friend, and Valerie's friend and set out making the soup Valerie requested.  


 

It is Pioneer Woman's and so, so delicious.

MY friend came over and ate with us.  It was good to just talk and listen and feel our friendship.

Then Bria called excited and emotional because Miss Bria got her first-ever care package.  It was from us, her family in Virginia.  Do you know what she said?  She said " So THIS is what it feels like to be loved!?" Be still my heart, I had tears in my eyes.  That was an incredible feeling!




THEN, I read many comforting replies to my message and prayer request on my secret site.  One was from a Biblical Scholar and she and I have started some amazing conversations.  Then the miracle happened.  I got personal messages from this guy.  He is not a part of "Sisters in Christ" (hah hah), but his appearance was a direct answer to my prayers.  What a crazy feeling that was.

When I first learned that he had been called into the bishopric, I was skeptical, at best.  Then I started following his blog and more often than not, found myself crying and crying and crying at so many of his amazing stories and insights.  Wow.  So, that he messaged me, I felt like a celebrity contacted me.  In fact, I stand by that.  In so many ways, he is bringing about a kindness and goodness to a church issue that I have really been struggling with.  I feel to be more like Jesus, we are asked to learn and love others.  I believe Mitch is one way the Church has been blessed because he has a solid testimony, and he is amazing in so many ways.  I could not even sleep Thursday night, realizing that this person I admire so much had contacted me.  He is legit, he is real, he is good, I really, really admire him. 

His entry into my life was a direct answer to prayer- it was not a "Yes" or a "No," but rather, a "hang tight, you have a good point"  I have hope.  I have faith.  I am sure that love and not hate is the answer.  


It was such a remarkable day.  I love these lessons of my life and I look forward to remembering them and being humble and asking for more insight and answers in my prayers.