Condolences

         -A Conversation of Grace

When I was asked to write a conversation of grace article at first I thought I can't do that, I'm not good with that stuff. I live my faith but don't always talk about it outright. Then I remembered a special conversation I'd had with Pat, a co-worker/friend of mine.

A couple of days after I returned to work following my husband's death, Pat came by my office to offer her condolences. We talked for a while about how I was doing and how things were going in my life. She said she couldn't believe that I was back in the office so soon. I explained that it was what I knew I had to do and besides I knew I wasn't walking alone. God was with me and by His grace was giving me the strength to go on. I also told her I pray every single day for Him to lead and guide my life. Plus I have my family, church, friends and co-workers; it's a wonderful support team. But I know that He is my leader. She was looking at me with such sadness in her eyes and I sensed something else was bothering her. Since I had been out of the office for a couple of weeks I hadn't known she also had been out. I asked her how things were with her and she started telling me what had gone on in her life over the last couple of months. She was going through a bad divorce and then her father had passed away suddenly, to top it all off she fell in the office and broke her arm. I could tell she was a total bundle of nerves. I told her that she wasn't alone and that God was watching over her and He would send her his peace. She went on to tell me she had some very bad feelings for her soon to be ex-husband and really was having a tough time with the circumstances of the breakup of her 30-year marriage. We talked for some time and I told her that all the anger and hurt inside her is not what God wanted for her. I told her she needed to let go and let God take over. I said she should take it to the Lord in prayer. We prayed together and then parted.

About two weeks later I saw her in the elevator and we asked each other how things were going. She smiled and said you don't know how much our talk meant to me, I started praying and I'm working on letting the bad feelings go and asking God to guide me through. I reminded her, He loves you and He's always there for you; and remember to keep listening because He'll be talking to you.

God's peace and richest blessings always,
Terry Ramey

Do you have a personal witnessing experience you would like to share with others? Please contact Martie Dunnett, Pay Sheehy, or Bill Pfancuff.