Today’s guest blogger is frequent Guideposts contributor Sharon Mangas! On a cold January morning, not too long ago, she received a love note from God. An early Valentine of sorts that filled her heart with wonder.
Here’s her story…
I opened my eyes. Sunday morning. A day for worship, a day to rest. But rest and worship weren’t on my mind this cold January day.
I picked up my virtual worry beads, ticking off a growing list of concerns: my mother-in-law recently diagnosed with a serious health condition…both our adult sons dealing with challenges at work…and did we really have enough saved for retirement?
Prayer would’ve been calming, but instead I chose to worry. I am a world-class worrier. A big-time control freak. As quickly as I give a problem to God, I snatch it back. I rolled over in bed and sighed. This was gonna be a rough day.
The door to the bedroom creaked open and Mike, my husband of 38 years, tiptoed in. “Morning, sunshine,” he said, moving to open the curtains.
There was a twinkle in his eye, and a mischievous look on his face. “I know it’s a little early to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” he said, “but I hope you like the heart I made for you…”
He pointed outside the window. I sat up, craning to see. Mike loves to tease and often plays on my gullibility. Sure enough, though, just off the shoreline of our lake was the perfect outline of a heart!
It’s rarely cold enough in southern Indiana for our lake to freeze solid. But the ice that formed overnight was clear and smooth. The heart stood out clear as day. “How did you do that?” I asked. “With ice skates?”
Mike grinned. “I can’t take credit…it wasn’t me. It’s either a God thing or we have some really smart fish!”
I couldn’t help but smile too. God’s greatest commandment played through my mind: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
Maybe the ice heart was a heavenly reminder to take it easy. Time to give my worries to God. A valentine from God, telling me to “chill out” and concentrate on loving life.
He couldn’t have picked a better courier to deliver the message!
What about you? Have you ever received a Valentine from God? Share your story below!
