Exploring Peace with Whitney R. Simpson
  • Home
  • About
    • About Whitney >
      • Whitney's Bio
    • Client Consent Form
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Giving Back
  • Services
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Yoga & Meditation
    • Energy Work
    • Retreats
    • Event Request
    • Freelance Writing
  • Community
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Whitney's Books

Good Things Still Happen

12/19/2012

 
Picture
It has been a hard week since the tragedy of those many young lives that were senselessly lost last Friday in Connecticut.  This week, I have heard  God whisper to me to keep my eyes open for the good things.  Yes, there is a lot of tragedy in this world.  And, honestly, there are many things that could leave us heartbroken and paralyzed if we opened our eyes to see into the depths of other lives - those around the block as well as those in countries outside our own.  


And at the same time, I keep hearing more clearly God reminding me to look around and celebrate the good things -  like my friends who are expecting new life and the joyous new marriages that are taking place.  We need to find joy in this season by looking to the cradle, even when it is easier to look to the grave.  So today, I saw the meaning of Christmas and the purpose of that cradle before my very eyes.


After our lunch and devotion at Gallatin CARES, a new mom and her mother (the new grandmother) asked me if I knew of any cribs that had been donated to the Thrift Store next door and if we could hold one for them.  I explained that they just randomly show up and I hadn't seen one but that I would keep my eyes open for them next time I shopped.  Shortly after this, I popped over to the store and we found a crib that had been donated just this morning.  It was a nice wooden crib, in good shape, that was fairly priced at $75.  The mom and grandmother were actually even more discouraged after seeing it and said it was simply out of their price range.  We began talking and I asked what their price range was.  I had a little cash in my pocket and quickly considered taking part of the burden from them but something held me back from suggesting that immediately.  Something had me just wait a moment before suggesting anything at all.  Within that moment, a man appeared out of nowhere.  He walked up to this new mom and grandmother and asked them if they would allow him to purchase this $75 crib for them.  


I wish I could bottle up the emotion that this moment held for each of us.  The man, humbly offering to help this family. The women, humbly accepting his help.  And me, humbly being allowed to simply witness this gift of a cradle for a new birth.


The scripture we studied today just before these women received this gift was Matthew 2:11:

They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (CEB)


Good things do still happen.  Gifts are still being given and love is being shown.  Jesus came to teach us this lesson.  Let us be the givers and doers and sometimes simply the observers of the good things because they do still happen.  


Keep your eyes open my friends, keep your eyes open.

rachel link
12/20/2012 12:48:17 am

Oh Whitney...I needed this today. Thank you.

Whitney link
12/21/2012 12:12:54 am

Thanks, Rachel. I did too!


Comments are closed.

      How about a Monthly Dose of Soul Care?

    Subscribe

    Picture

    Whitney R. Simpson

    author  
    deaconess
    ​​retreat leader
    spiritual director

    yoga & meditation teacher



    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture



    Click to connect:

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Anxiety
    Aromatherapy
    Beads
    Body
    Book
    Breath
    Centering Prayer
    Christmas
    Community
    Contemplation
    Devotional
    Discernment
    Disciplines
    Downloads
    Dreams
    Embodiment
    Energy Work
    Equality
    Essential Oils
    Everbloom
    Family
    Favorite Things
    Fear
    Food
    Giveaway
    Giving Back
    Guest Post
    Healing
    Inspiration
    Journaling
    Justice
    Kombucha
    Labyrinth
    Lectio Divina
    Lent
    Life
    Listen
    Love
    Meditation
    Mindfulness
    Ministry
    Mission
    Music
    Mystics
    Neighbors
    Older Adults
    Peace Seekers
    Podcast
    Poem
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Prayer Of Examen
    Quotes
    Relaxation
    Rest
    Retreat
    Rule Of Life
    Sabbath
    Sacred Ordinary Days
    Scipture
    Scripture
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Small Groups
    Solitude
    Soul Care
    Spiritual Direction
    Spiritual Formation
    Spiritual Friends
    Trafficking
    Upper Room
    Walking Meditation
    Wild Goose
    Women
    Yoga
    Yoga Nidra


    ​archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    April 2011
    January 2011
    October 2010
    August 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010


    Content @ 2010-2023 
    Whitney R. Simpson

    Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC

Join our Community
Schedule Soul Care
Listen to the Podcast
Read the Blog
​Contact Whitney
© 2022, Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC
Picture
Photo used under Creative Commons from lululemon athletica
  • Home
  • About
    • About Whitney >
      • Whitney's Bio
    • Client Consent Form
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Giving Back
  • Services
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Yoga & Meditation
    • Energy Work
    • Retreats
    • Event Request
    • Freelance Writing
  • Community
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Whitney's Books