Guest Writer: Rev. Sheila Gillette
Scripture: 1st Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
Thought for the Day: It was Ash Wednesday and I was in the chapel from 11-1 providing ashes and prayer for anyone who happened to come in. A little after one, I left the chapel and went back to my office- not cleaning up the ashes. Why, I don’t know? Usually I would have cleaned up when finishing, but not this Ash Wednesday. A couple hours later, I headed back to the chapel to clean up the ashes. Upon entering the chapel, a lady was sitting on a chapel bench praying and softly crying. She looked up when she saw me. I introduced myself and asked if she would like to receive ashes? She said most definitely and smiled through her tears. She got up and we both approached the altar where I anointed her with the sign of the cross of ashes in the “name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Gently asking her if she would like prayer and if there was anything in particular that she needed prayer for, she responded “yes” and told me the things in her life that she needed prayer for. With the Holy Spirit in charge, I took her hands and led a prayer as tears gently continued to run down her cheeks. Reminding her in prayer that she was a loved child of God, I closed the prayer in Jesus Name. Why did I happen to go back to the chapel at that particular time? Did I hear without realizing that Jesus was calling me to come to her?
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, Thank you for the many opportunities of small acts of love You put before us and guide us to when we are listening. Listening with our ears of faith, love, and the Holy Spirit guiding our hearts. Father, help us to hear and respond to those opportunities and not miss them. They are a gift for both the receiver and especially the giver. Thank you and Praise You, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, AMEN.
