Daily Devotion

Carol Wuebbling

Several years ago, at a Good Shepherd Women’s Retreat, I learned that my dominant Spiritual gift is Hospitality. To me, that means treating everyone as if she or he were Christ in disguise. I love welcoming guests into our home, and in summer, into our cozy cottage in Michigan.  That often means feeding them, listening, looking into their eyes and being truly ‘present’ to them. I’ve been blessed. My elderly parents who live nearby are spiritual people, as are my friends who drive from Cincinnati to share this natural setting.

     Not so this summer.  Covid virus restrictions meant I entertained my folks (98 & 96) exclusively. They were not allowed to have visitors in their retirement home, nor to attend exercise class, nor card games. They felt very isolated, and so did I.  So their caregivers drove them (need I say ‘snuck them’?) out to my cottage 5 or 6 days a week, and my spiritual gift was fed by those intense visits. We reminisced, we played cards, we watched the lake activity from my deck, and we made prayerful ponderings a part of our time together.

     But something was missing. On my off hours, I worked in the long-neglected yard. I ripped out weeds and scrub trees, and even uncovered a huge boulder in the corner, next to the road. It dominated the shady spot where our property met the neighbor’s.  And after several days of pulling out roots and making everything smooth, I got help from a young man. He spread mulch and hauled a wooden bench from the barn, so I’d have a place for resting and reading in the shade. I called it my Meditation Corner, and moved Hosta plants there, to add some living green.

     But then, a mini-miracle happened: An elderly couple haltingly ambled past…Karen and Dave. I’d met them 15 years ago, when I first moved in, but never had a chance to truly know them. Their agility was minimal, and yet they walked past every day. On their way back home, I yelled from a distance: “Please have a seat and rest awhile; it’s my new shady spot”. And they did. Every day.  And if I was outdoors, I’d walk to within 8 or 10 feet and we’d talk. I learned about their children and grandchildren, about their early lives, and their fear of the virus and their Faith.

     They weren’t the only ones. A single parent pushing her child in a stroller also stopped to rest in that shade. I introduced myself and invited them to stop and rest again. A widow ambled by, too. Same message.  I couldn’t feed them, but I did listen and look into their eyes and treat them as if they were Christ in disguise.  And in fact, they were. I felt my loneliness diminish and my spiritual gift renewed. And my soul blessed. Like I said, a mini miracle.

I Thessalonians, 3:10

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face.

Tender God, thank you for showing us your face and knowing and loving us. Amen

11 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

Dianne Gebhardt-French

Very meaningful and so wonderful. Thanks for sharing your shady space with others and, by extension, all of us.

11/2/2020 11:00 AM

Reply to

carol wuebbling

Thanks so much, Dianne. I'm so glad you felt the shared shade.

11/2/2020 7:05 PM

Reply to

Marge Anderson

Lovely thoughts, Carol. I have so appreciated all of these devotions from the congregation!

11/2/2020 1:30 PM

Reply to

CAROL WUEBBLING

Thanks Pastor Marge. ..so nice to hear from you

11/2/2020 7:07 PM

Reply to

Marvin Kolodzik

Thanks for the wonderful uplifting Devotional Message.

I might drive to Michigan looking for a bench in the shade by a big rock.

11/2/2020 5:50 PM

Reply to

carol wuebbling

Marvin, your response makes my heart swell. I'd really love a visit next summer. THAT BOULDER AND BENCH and meditative shade will be ready.

11/2/2020 7:11 PM

Reply to

Becky Barnaclo

Carol, you are a blessing to so many. Thanks for sharing these lovely moments. Reading this made me teary remembering how kind you were to my mom.

11/3/2020 2:04 PM

Reply to

carol wuebbling

And I, dear Becky, am teary reading your words and remembering your mom. Thanks so much

11/3/2020 2:35 PM

Reply to

Becky Barnaclo

❤️ You meant the world to her. Thank you. I think of you often.

11/4/2020 11:00 AM

Reply to

Danelle Buelsing

Carol, your story is beautiful. I'm sure your shady spot was a respite, but your biggest gift was the kindness and listening ear that you shared.

11/7/2020 1:34 AM

Reply to

Carol Wuebbling

Danelle, thanks so much for your insights and kind comment. You are one sweet and spiritual woman.

11/19/2020 6:09 PM

Reply to

Leave a comment

Name:	Please enter a name.
Email:	Please enter an email address. Please enter a valid email address.

Comment:	Please enter comment.
I agree	This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data. You must read and accept this rules.

Add comment