Christmas Angels

By Kay Heitsch

By Kay Heitsch

One of my favorite Christmas memories was living in Dover, Ohio. My friend Ruth Ann, who has gone Home now, and I were in charge of getting "Angels" for the Christmas Eve service.

Several weeks before, we were busy calling teenage girls asking if they would like to be an "Angel" for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Each girl we called was excited to be a part of the service.

The church was beautifully decorated by the altar committee. Jo Schilling, who has also gone Home now, was in charge. Everything looked wonderful.

The night of the service, the girls gathered in a room, putting on white gowns with a halo of gold tinsel on their heads. Each girl was given a long white unlit candle to carry. After they were all dressed and ready, they gathered in the narthex, waiting to walk in.

The night of the service was so touching. Music played softly, and the lights were turned down as each "Angel" walked down the long aisle with their unlit candle. As they came to the front of the church, our pastor, Rev Jim, stood with the "Christ's Candle," and the girls lit their candles off of it.

After lighting their candle, they went to the end of each row and lit the candle of the first person in the row. Then, as that person had their candle lit, they would light the candle of the person next to them.

After a few minutes, every candle in the church was glowing. Then, our organist, Linda, began playing "Silent Night," and everyone sang as we raised our candles in the air. Tears filled my eyes, and I'm sure others experienced the same loving feeling.

I had never been to a candlelight service, so this experience was new. I loved the symbolism this ceremony told. As we go to Christ, we receive His light/love. After we do, we light/touch the people around us, and His light/love continues.

I'll always remember this special Christmas memory. It has stayed with me all these years. I pray we will let His light shine for all the world.

Christmas Caroling

By Kay Heitsch

We spotted the porch light as we slowly drove down the street that cold December evening. "This must be the house." I told our "Positive Teens In Action" group.

We pulled up in front of an older home with a glowing porch light. We gathered our songbooks, walked up the steps, and knocked on the door. We heard a faint voice from inside say, "Come on in. The door is open." We opened the door.

An older woman with a big smile sat in a rocking chair. "I've been expecting you," she said weakly. Ruth was one of the Meals On Wheels stops I had arranged, along with the usual church members who enjoyed carolers.

We handed Ruth the basket of goodies the teens had assembled earlier that evening. Then I asked Ruth what carols she would like to hear. Ruth's face was beaming as she joined in, singing each song.

As we hugged Ruth goodbye, she said to me with tears glistening in her eyes, "The day you called, I was still in bed. I had just finished praying. I asked God if it would be possible to have some Christmas Carolers come to my home and sing this year. Thank you for being the answer to my Christmas prayer."

Our Bible verse says. When you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your unseen Father. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. Matthew 6:6

Wow, what an incredible experience to have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's Christmas prayer.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Todd

 (¯`v´¯)

`*..¸.*☆☆'ℒℴѵℯ~ Happy Heavenly Birthday, Todd. ~ ~

Todd, since you left, all days have not been the same. I think of you every day, but when your birthday, the day you left, or holidays roll around, these days are different.

On these days, I wonder what you would look like. Of course, you know, I look the same.

I wonder what you would be doing. Would you be married and have children? My thoughts are endless.

You are missed and loved by our family, me, and many people who knew you. Love never dies! Our love for you lives on.

Love always and forever, Mom.

Believe Plaque

By Kay Heitsch

This past year I bought a bright red plaque with white letters that said "BELIEVE" and hung it on the front porch. We have a port-hole window, and I see this word every time I go up the stairs.

I can't tell you what a blessing looking out and seeing this word has been. Whenever I was going through something difficult, I would look out the window and read this word, BELIEVE. Just reading this word gave me hope that things would improve. There were times I purposely stood and read the word repeatedly.

Little did I know what an impact this BELIEVE plaque would have when we bought it. Believing can give us hope when things look bad. Believing can remind us to expect the best that is yet to come.

Huh?

By Kay Heitsch

Let God have your life. He can do more with it than you can. ~ Entrust Your Life To The Lord Quotes ~

I needed clarification on the title the Peale Center had given a letter I had written. It read, "She Surrendered To God." Huh? I wanted to understand why they would share my letter with this title.

I didn't realize at the time that I was surrendering to God by asking the Lord to bring something positive out of Todd's death and to use me if needed. I was releasing my need to know when, where, or why. I wanted Him to have complete control.

Our Bible verse says, Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You, I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8

As we entrust our lives to the LORD, know we can trust Him to show us the best way to go.

Let God have your life. He can do more with it than you can.

A Coincidence?

By Kay Heitsch

A few days after Todd's funeral, I heard the name Wendy for the first time. It's interesting how a name can keep showing up.

Everyone was shocked when Todd was killed instantly and unexpectedly in a car accident. Our young nephew, Josh, was no exception. He was having difficulty understanding Todd's death, as we all were. However, the morning of Todd's funeral Josh told his mom that "Wendy" told him everything was going to be okay. He didn't need to worry about Todd. Who was "Wendy?"

A few weeks passed, and I cleaned some drawers in Todd's bedroom. I found a book in one of the drawers that Todd had written for a class assignment when he was in the sixth grade. Much to my surprise, Todd referred to "Wendy" as his "Constant Companion." I don't know if this would get your attention, but it sure did get mine.

Was it a coincidence that the Wendy who gave Josh comfort and the Wendy in Todd's book just happened to have the same name? Or could they both be Todd's guardian angel?

This past year, I went through a difficult time. Several times a day, a friend who happens to be named "Wendy" sent me texts to check how I was doing.

A Coincidence? No, I believe in angels. I believe in guardian angels and special angels on earth who happen to have the name Wendy!

Why Make Yourself Sick?

By Kay Heitsch

For years I stressed and worried about things. If a worrying thought came to my mind, I rolled it over and over. Then, finally, when I thought I had it figured out, for a brief moment, I had some relief, but it wasn't long before something else would come up.

What did this get me? It filled me with stress and actually made me sick. I had indigestion, neck aches, severe pains in my stomach, and the list goes on.

I didn't want to be like this, but I didn't know how to change. I didn't realize my trouble was coming from my thoughts.

It was a great day when I started to read Dr. Peale's books. In one of his books, he said to buy a Bible and highlight everything that caught your attention. I didn't have a Bible, so I bought the cheapest one. It was a paperback Good News Bible. I liked the title, thinking it must be different than the scary Holy Bible. I needed some Good News!

Well, wouldn't you know, verses about worry caught my attention. So I started to highlight every verse I saw. It was life-changing what began to happen. My thinking began to change! I was starting to feel less stressed, and my physical issues began to clear up.

If a worrying thought started to torment my mind, I'd ask myself, "Why make yourself sick?" Then, I replaced the worried thought with a Bible verse, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7.

Our worried thoughts can mess with our minds and make us sick. It's wonderful to know we can give all of our worries and cares to God because He cares for us.

So God Knows

By Kay Heitsch

Even when you don't understand, keep trusting God. ~ We Don't Know What Tomorrow Will Bring Quotes ~

"So God knows" were the words my friend Wendy's text started out with this morning. As I read on, I soon learned what she was referring to.

Yesterday was a disappointing day for her. Wendy had plans to bring her mom to her home for the winter. However, these plans fell through, and it was clear this would not happen.

This morning Wendy shared with me that her 22-year-old nephew was killed in a car accident last night. As sad as this is, if Wendy and her mom had started out on their long trip to Wendy's home, they would have had to turn right around and return.

Yesterday, Wendy and her mom didn't understand why they could not leave, but today they know.

Our Bible verse says, Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

This is excellent advice! We need to trust in the LORD when we don't understand. Because God Knows!

Never Give Up!

By Kay Heitsch

Wow, last night was a great example of a person never giving up.

I don't follow many baseball games, but I have been halfway watching the Word Series while I do my Sudoku book.

Several times during the games, I heard the announcers say that Justin Verlander, a pitcher, had never won a World Series game.

It's not that Justin isn't a great pitcher; he is. He is going to be given the Cy Young award this year. However, even though he is a great pitcher, he had never been able to win a game in the World Series, even though he had pitched in more than one before.

I watched part of the game last night, and in the 1st inning, he threw a pitch, and a batter got a homerun. So I thought, "Oh, here he goes again! I hope he can get over this mental block he seems to have." But before the game was over, I went to bed.

Much to my surprise this morning, I asked Bill if Justin finally pitched a game where they won, and Bill said he did!

Finally, after all these years, Justin won when he didn't give up!

There ya go! This is a great example that it pays to never give up!

This Will Cost You

By Kay Heitsch

I remember well the day I read these words. They made me mad!

Yes, I wanted to be happy but I didn't like the idea that it would cost me. I wanted to have an overcoming life like the people I had been reading about. But quite honestly I didn't know if I wanted to put forth the effort or do what they did to have it.

What was I going to have to do? What was I going to have to give up?

I learned I couldn't win the war without a battle. This life I wanted was going to cost.

First, I tried to have this life I wanted on my own. It worked for a while. It's amazing what pure willpower can do. But when Todd died suddenly and unexpectedly this shook me to the core. Now I needed more help than willpower could give me to be happy and live the life I wanted.

Some people may not want to hear this or do it. But I'm only telling you what has worked in my life. I gave my life totally to the Lord! I asked Him to help me live an overcoming life.

Oh, did I have to give up some things? You bet I did! I had to give up self-pity, bitterness about the unfair, unjust things that happened, the lies told about me, etc. It wasn't easy, and still isn't, but if I was going to have this life I wanted I knew it was worth it.

I have found I've gained so much more than I've given up, but it has cost me giving up the negatives to having the positives.

It also cost me giving myself to the Lord and Him giving me whatever I need to live the life I said I wanted.

Today

By Kay Heitsch

SMILE, it will make you look better. PRAY it will keep you strong. LOVE it will help you enjoy life more. ~ Enjoy Each Day Quotes ~

Our grandson Eli got his first cell phone last week. He's been sending me a "Good Morning" before he starts his day. This makes me smile. So I send him a text back telling him good morning, and I'm sending prayers and love his way.

Smiling, praying, and loving will undoubtedly help us enjoy life more. But, if we wait to be happy until all our circumstances are just the way we like them, we will be waiting to enjoy life for a long time.

Our Bible verse says, "This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NASB

This is the day, not tomorrow or next week. Today is the day the LORD has made. So let's all rejoice and be glad in it!

SMILE, it will make you look better. PRAY it will keep you strong. LOVE it will help you enjoy life more.

The Power Of A Moment

By Kay Heitsch

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you'll look back and realize they were the big things. ~ Little Moments We Remember Quotes

There is power in a moment! For instance, I will never forget walking into our youngest son Brandon and Veronica's home and Brandon handing me baby Gus. It was a little thing, but it's a moment I will never forget.

It's the little moments in life that we seem to remember. We may not remember the whole day, but we sure remember a moment some little thing happened.

Our Bible verse says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 GNT

The thief does come to try to steal, kill, and destroy our lives, but Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly.

Enjoy the little things in life. Then, one day, you'll look back and realize they were the big things.

The Big Game

By Kay Heitsch

Tonight is the big game between Dover and New Philadelphia, Ohio. I remember the game well when the Dover Seniors dedicated the game to Todd. It was a special night.

I don't believe that year the Dover team was supposed to win, but can I tell you they did! It was an exciting game!

A few days after the game, a group of football players came to the house and gave me the game ball. I will always treasure this ball. I still have it on display. I have to say, thanks for the memories!

After all these years, I have very special feelings for this game. But since I have friends who live in Dover and NP, I hope the game ends in a tie.

P.S. The game did end in a tie! It went into overtime and NP won by one point!

Noah

By Kay Heitsch

When our first grandchild, Noah, was born, we didn't know what to expect. We thought he would be healthy and developed like most babies. Unfortunately, however, that was not the case.

Noah had a lot of health problems from the very beginning. As a result, he had several labels put on him, one being failure to thrive.

We take a lot for granted when we have children, one being their eating ability. Unfortunately, Noah wasn't able to suck like most babies. While in the hospital, a feeding tube had to be put in. As much as this was needed, it broke our hearts to see what all Noah and our children went through.

One day I was in the grocery store. A young mother was walking by with her newborn baby. The baby started to fuss a little. Then, in a disgusted voice, the mother looked at me and commented that now she had to feed the baby again. I knew she was taking feeding her baby as an inconvenience and not something to be thankful for.

I was kind, but I shared with her what Noah was going through. I said, "You have no idea how thankful my daughter would be to feed Noah like you're able to."

Noah is unique and has come a long way. I'm thankful he can do things today that I didn't know he would ever be strong enough to do.

Today, let's take some time to think about things we often take for granted and be thankful.

What Took You So Long?

By Kay Heitsch

Talk to God. He loves to hear from you throughout the day. ~ Reach Out To God Quotes ~

I remember the first time I called out to God in earnest. I was in distress! I needed God to help me. I had tried everything I knew, but now I was at the end of myself.

What I heard surprised me! I don't know what I was expecting, but God answered me with these words, "What took you so long? I've been here all along."

Our Bible verse says, "In my distress, I called to the LORD, and He answered me." Psalm 120:1 ESV

I relate to this verse. I sincerely called to the LORD in my distress. And much to my surprise, He answered me.

God was there all along, but I hadn't sincerely called to Him. It took being in distress to call. Don't wait like I did until you're in distress to pray.

Talk to God. He loves to hear from you throughout the day.

A Perfect Excuse

By Kay Heitsch

The phone rang; a woman asked if I would come and share my testimony about the death of our son Todd with a women's group at her church. This would be an intimate setting in the lady's lounge.

I had shared my testimony once a couple weeks before. I only did that because an old friend had been bugging me for months to come and share. I am not a public speaker, and talking about the death of our son, Todd, in a car accident was not something I had ever thought about doing.

Honestly, when that night was over, I thought I would never be asked to talk about this tragedy again, even though I knew the Lord had brought a lot of good out of Todd's untimely death.

However, now I was on the phone with someone I did not know, asking me to share my testimony again. I wasn't sure what to say until I was told the date this women's group wanted me to come over.

Todd died in a car accident on February 6th. That said, February 6th can be an emotional day for me, so when this caller requested I come over in the evening on February 5th, I hesitated! I knew I would be feeling more emotional than usual. I certainly didn't want to cry in a group of women I didn't even know.

Then it hit me; I had told the Lord I would be available to do whatever He wanted me to do. So I could see I had a perfect excuse to get out of this, but somehow I knew I was supposed to accept the invitation.

I did share my testimony on February 5th with this lady's group even though I had a perfect excuse not to. It was a memorable evening. I felt their love and became close friends with many women in that church. In fact, I'm still friends with many of them today.

When The Time Is Right

By Kay Heitsch

If you have ever had to sell your house, you will understand that keeping it clean and ready to show anytime isn't easy. Unfortunately, I've had to do this several times over the years. One time our house was on the market for over a year.

During this year, many things were happening. My husband, Bill, had started a new job an hour and a half away from home. As a result, we were able to help a homeless mission there. Our daughter, Shannon, was a senior in high school, and she was able to graduate.

During this year, my friend, Ruth Ann, asked me to help her with a teen group at church. We had a lot of fun working with the kids. However, I knew I would, at some point, be moving on. That being so, Ruth Ann and I wanted the church to hire a youth minister. However, not everyone agreed with spending the money to hire a new staff person.

Ruth Ann had clarified to the pastor that we would not be attending business meetings. However, one evening Ruth Ann and I participated in a business meeting to discuss and vote on hiring a youth minister.

I don't know who invited a youth minister from another church, but he was at this business meeting. I was happy to see him. He sat quietly listening until he seemed to sense some tension in the room. Then, suddenly, he spoke up and asked everyone to get in a circle and hold hands. Everyone did as he asked, and he prayed. After his prayer, a vote to hire a youth minister was approved.

I was overwhelmed with joy! I stood up and said, "Well, now I believe my work here is done, and our house will sell! Then I added, but not tomorrow Lord because we're taking the teens to Geauga Lake." I was shocked I was being so outspoken, but the words were out!

Bright and early, the morning after we went to Geauga Lake, I was in bed when the phone rang. Paula, our realtor, was on the phone and asked if she could bring some people over to see the house immediately.

I scrambled my sunburned body out of bed. What's funny is I didn't have time to get everything perfect as I always tried to do. But it was the right time, and these people bought our home.

Our timing isn't always God's timing, but He will make it happen when the right time comes.