T.O.P.'s Tuesday: An Unexpected Gift

Last week I received a text from a friend who lives in Florida: "Lisa, I am sending you something. It won't fit in your mailbox. When I saw it, I instantly thought of you. My friend made it...I hope you like it. Love to you..."

I must confess, the anticipation ignited and I couldn't wait. I had no idea what it was. This afternoon my Dad called me while I was tutoring, "Your package arrived!" After tutoring I went to my Dad's house, text my friend, and then opened the package while on the phone with her. Once open, I had tears in my eyes. This photo doesn't do justice for this painting yet the message it brings is still visible.

The first thing I thought, "This is Heidi and I when we reunite one day.", then my friend shared, "I saw this and thought of you and Heidi." The dampness in my eyes quickly turned into tears of joy, love, and hope. As she shared about seeing this painting and her first thoughts, I kept staring at it. The beauty captured combined with the love and friendship that came with the gift remind me of how precious time, friendship, and hope is. 

We spent half an hour or more visiting, catching up, and enjoying each other's company. We wrapped up our conversation and I hit the "end" on my phone yet I couldn't stop staring at the painting. It entranced me, and still does. I don't know if it's the that I thought of Heidi as soon as I saw it, or was it that not only had I thought of Heidi but so had my friend. My friend said when she saw it, she thought of the bond, love, and sisterhood between Heidi and I. It doesn't matter why, all that matters is that God used my friend to bring me hope in the very moment I needed it the most. God knows what we need, when we need it. He used my friend, and her friend (I don't know the artist's name) who painted it, as messengers to me. For this, I'm very thankful today.

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What, or WHO, are you thankful for today?