" THE NOTE in the SANDWICH "

Many years ago when my husband and I were little more than newlyweds, I would make his lunch and pack it so he would have a fit meal to carry him through the day. I had the bright idea one day to include a little note inside of his sandwich. The note said simply: "I love you."

He reminded me this morning, some 46 years later, of that day when he bit into his sandwich and tugged on the note within. We laughed for the humor it evoked and then how much more through these long years our love has continued to grow and still grows.

I asked him what the people who saw him biting into his sandwich thought when they saw him pull out the note?. He said they were somewhat taken aback and just looked. However, I seem to remember their ribbing the dickens out of him saying in sing-song fashion that his 'wife sent him a love note in a sandwich.'

Do you receive love notes everyday? What am I getting at? Well, we all receive love notes everyday in the form of prayers others pray for us and in the love notes we send praying for others. Whether they are actually on paper or email or within our hearts, we send and receive many love notes everyday. Look at the love coming through our prayer groups.

We can receive huge windfalls of love notes everyday in the form of the books of the Bible. The Word of the Lord is the Love of the Lord for us. Every verse, every word is a love note inspired by the Holy Spirit from writers so disposed to hearing and writing down what God wanted them to do, every word, every phrase, every verse, every chapter, every book, all in the Holy Bible. All of it is a gargantuan love note from God.

If for some reason you are feeling unloved, take a step back as soon as you gain some equilibrium and make note of the many ways love does come to you through the designs of Almighty God who loves you beyond all telling.
Many people do not realize they are part of a bigger picture, thinking the world revolves around them and only them. They need our prayers, patience and love as they are children of the same Father who is Father to all of us. As mirror images of our Father we must radiate his love to others, treat them as our sisters and brothers, love them. As the Lord came to serve, so also we as Christians must serve. Let us serve love notes with kind words and kind actions. Let our love notes be in the form of prayers to our Father for them, for their salvation.

Your love notes might not be in a sandwich, like mine, so long ago, but consider the love you can send, literally, to someone in a note,
or in prayers you can pray for them.


© Mel Patterson, 3-17-08


" THE WINGS OF PRAYER "


Do you feel as though you are being tossed about,
As if in high seas with the storm's pounding clout?
Do you feel battle weary, fatigued beyond all reason?
Do you wonder if you'll ever reach a peaceful season?

As the rolling waves of the ocean ebb and flow
And the fierce winds blast your life to and fro
Know you're in a temporary and not permanent place
And ask the Lord to fill your heart with His Grace.

The storms of life are many; this we know as fact.
We've tried every conceivable thought, word and act
When all has been said and done seemingly for naught,
We pause finally and listen to God's renewing thought.

At times we wonder why no one comes to our rescue
Feeling defeated and deserted, our lives all askew.
We come to the realization that God truly does care
And we can see a new horizon on the wings of Prayer.

© Mel Patterson, 3-16-08