Hi everyone, Thank you for joining me today.

I want to also thank everyone for your condolences about losing our dog, Howie. I say “losing,” but I know he’s not lost. That in itself is consoling when I remember that I need to direct my thoughts to what God has given me.

Therefore, I will write about remembering the “right” things, again, as I did when remembering 11 wonder-filled years of Howie’s life.

In July 2023 I wrote two blogs about remembering. There is joy in remembering the right things. In Rightly Remembering I mentioned that David and I had agreed I needed to write about some of the many things God had given me to give others. My desire to give a poem to my sister as a gift began my poetry and writing adventure. In Blue Skies, Butterflies,& Battlegrounds I wrote about several gifts that the Lord had inspired me to give, just the right gift at the right time.

Today’s story is about a gift for a broken-hearted friend of my daughter’s.

Where do I begin? I will write as the Holy Spirit guides me to tell of the goodness and kindness of the Lord in many of the simple things in life…

My daughter, Andrea had a close friend several years younger than her. Her friend had never been married and was still dating. She had not been taught about Jesus until she met Andrea. She started going to church with Andrea and received her salvation. Their friendship grew even closer during that time and Andrea was able to give her wise counsel on various topics.

I met this friend and had only been around her a few times; I didn’t know her well.

She came to visit Andrea at our house and I saw the two of them sitting on our patio talking. I went outside to briefly greet her because I didn’t want to interrupt their visit. Before I went inside Andrea told me it was her friend’s birthday that day. I had the idea and desire to give her something that might be meaningful to her, so, I asked the Lord for help as I looked through my things.

Quickly, I thought of my vintage handkerchief collection, so I started there. They all looked very old-fashioned, too much so for a younger modern woman, except for one. It was bright and beautifully decorated with hearts. I was confident it was right to give as her gift.

 So I quickly hand-washed it and let it dry under my blow dryer.

The next step was to decide how to wrap it special. I thought of a box first but knew I didn’t have any wrapping paper. So, I went through my collection of gift bags. Right away I found a gift bag with…you may have guessed, hearts all over it. It even had a vintage look to it! I was very pleased with what I was finding, and thankful that it was going so quickly because I didn’t know how long her visit would be.

The handkerchief was soon dry and as I was wrapping it in tissue paper I had the idea to drop a few drops of essential oils on it. While searching through my essential oils I had no idea what scent she would like. I know enough about aromas to consider they have powerful effects on our spirit, soul, and body. It was an important decision. The Lord certainly knew the desires of my heart so when I came to the oil Melissa, I knew it was the right one. I can’t explain it, I just knew. I sprinkled a couple of drops on the heart hanky, wrapped it in tissue, and excitedly slipped it into the special bag.

As I was going outside to present the gift I decided to look up the benefits of Melissa oil. It is a calming, relaxing oil, and can help reduce stress and anxiety. It is also known as the healing of the heart oil! Not knowing what was going on in her personal life, I knew her well enough that she could probably use some calmness in her life ( as most of us) so I was pleased with my brief research.

So, with the gift in hand, I headed for the patio with that little excitement building that I didn’t understand. After all, it was an old handkerchief for a young woman who had most likely never used one, right?

As I presented the gift I told her it was a small token of my appreciation of her friendship with my daughter. I then wished her a happy birthday. She smiled and first remarked on her love for the heart-covered bag. 😊Then she unwrapped the handkerchief. As she smelled it she exclaimed, “I love this scent and the handkerchief is beautiful”! She appeared genuinely pleased. She asked what scent it was. When I told her the oil was Melissa and its benefits, she started to cry. The funny thing is, she had right in her hands what she needed to catch those tears.

I did not understand the emotions until Andrea explained something in her friend’s personal life. She had a broken heart over a recent break-up with a man she thought she was in love with and would marry. There it was, the purpose for the hearts and the healing of the heart oil!

As always, God knows exactly what He is doing through us and why. He provided and had me choose the heart hanky to dry her tears, the heart bag to hold it, and the Melissa oil to help heal her broken heart. All of this on her birthday and visit with her dear friend, my beautiful daughter, Andrea.

While all of this unfolded, I was not only blessed and grateful, but I was reminded our God knows how to give the best even in the small things. I can never thank Him enough for allowing me to participate and He gave me the desires of my heart while doing so. As always it is more blessed to give than receive. And He gives more than we even know to ask for.

Psalm 77:11-12 NKJV “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. V 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds”.

And the “Greatest Gift” of all reminds us…

Luke 22:19-20 NKJV “And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you”.

I spoke of this “Gift” in my book “Inspire Me”. Here are a few verses from the poem “Sea of Forgetfulness” pages 12-13.

“Forgiveness my dear, that’s where salvation does start,”

I inquired how to attain the Salvation He spoke of

He said, “It is a Gift from the Father above”.

Darkness removed, in His light, I could see

The “Gift” He spoke of was walking next to me!

So there in the midst of my many sins in the sand

Kneeling before Him, I took “Gift’s” nail-scarred hand“…

Thank You, Lord, for giving us everything we need even in the seemingly small things. May we always give You the Glory.

And thank you, my friends. Your time is valuable. I pray each time you read what I have written you see more of God’s love and character and that you have or will receive the Greatest Gift of All. Jesus Christ, God’s perfect “Gift” to all mankind.

Reba

PS. I have seen some scripture references I have previously given that are the wrong chapter or verse. I will try to be more diligent in double-checking for typos or genuine mistakes.