The Little Promptings

The collage below is of Grandad and Audie.  Audie is Mom and JoBug's cousin who lived with them in the summers as they were all growing up.  He and his family live in Colorado, so we don't get to see them very often... but just over three years ago, he said he had a strong feeling that he needed to come see Babah and Grandad (or as they call them, "Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Dang").  He rallied his brothers and sister, and they came to surprise them for a long weekend visit, which you can read more about HERE.

 

 

It was a really great time with them that meant a lot to Babah and Grandad.  And one of my favorite moments was on this day three years ago when Bryce spoke up after dinner at JoBug's, saying really kind things about Grandad and honoring his influence in all of their lives (bottom left photo below).  He said they all wanted to come down and see them because sometimes people wait too long to say the important things, and they wanted him and Babah to know how much they mean to them. Grandad, being the tenderhearted person that he is, teared up several times that night, but he wasn't alone... it was emotional and meaningful to all of us.

 

 

We had a family breakfast together the next morning at Virginia's Cafe, then they all headed back home... 

 

A few short months later, Grandad had a terrible stroke.  And one year and two days after their visit, he passed away.  Then Audie and Bill (the brother of Audie and Bryce who also came for Grandad's 90th birthday party) came back to serve as pallbearers at his funeral.

I didn't fully appreciate the timing of all that until I saw the memories on Google Photos this morning.  But I so distinctly remember Audie talking about how he had a strong feeling that he needed to come and visit them... and I believe that was clearly a nudge from the Holy Spirit.  And it was a really good reminder for me to pay attention to those gentle promptings:  When you feel led to help or visit someone, follow through on it.  And when you think something good or kind about someone, say it!  I'm so glad they didn't put it off longer.  I'm so grateful that Grandad and Babah got to enjoy that visit while they were both healthy and well.  Things can change rapidly, and none of us know what the future holds.  But God does, and He cares about us, so it is greatly to our benefit to pay attention and listen for His voice and follow His leading when we feel an unshakable sense of urgency or prompting from His Spirit!! ❤

That's about all I've got for today.  

Here's a quick slideshow from that gathering in 2018:

 

"The Spirit is the one who gives life!  Human strength can do nothing.  The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."  ~John 6:63

"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.  But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away."  ~Matthew 25:29