Rhodesia, frost and priviledges...
This morning I left the house at 7.20am. I thought of switching on the car radio but instead revelled in the quiet. Worries of various sorts (you wouldnt' believe the things which occur to me to worry about: a little chat with the Lord before I left this morning reminded me not only of my puniness and inability to even affect how my body works, but also that He loves me so much than NOTHING will happen pertaining to me which is not for my highest good). By the time I was passing through Woking my mind was all settled on that matter.
Having driven past the road into which I was to turn to deliver the items from Leicester I phoned the man who was expecting them and got back on track. The man kindly invited me in for a cup of coffee. The first thing I was shown was a letter 'from the queen' congratulating the former owner of the mirror on attaining the age of 109. Today would have been her 110 th birthday, if she hadn't been called home 8 weeks ago. Conversation with this elderly couple revealed that they had had a happy life in Rhodesia for 34 years before Mugabe siezed the reins. They arrived in the UK with only £512 - all they were allowed to bring with them.

Wishing to work hard (not being of the generation which has no conscience about living at tax-payers expense if it could, by any means, be avoided), they were able to rent a flat, then another. The second was sold and they resorted to applying for a council house - it was a humiliating experience. So they they are in a (delightfully situated) little council bungalow with little money. The mirror, which was the main item being delivered, had been in the family for a long time. I love the idea of looking into a mirror which ones ancestors have gazed into - so did the man. Not having a car, there was no possibility of him safely conveying this mirror or the pictures which had belonged to his mother, to his home. The man told me of his experiences as a lad being 'dragged along' to the brethren chapel which Lucy first attended when she was in Leicester. It seems he is no friend of the truth - perhaps he was put off it by his experiences. He certainly has HEARD the truth and I pray that the Lord might awaken the memory and over-rule all those off-putting experiences he had with the imperfections of his long-ago fellow-worshippers.
What a priviledge it is to see the early-morning sunrise on a frosty morning in November, lighting up white, twinkly fields and trees, to be able to sit in a comfortable car as the views change ahead and around one, to be able to enrich someone elses life by bringing them something of such great value to them, to know that the Lord's hand is in it - today was the deceased's birthday (1897-2007!!!!). To be able to assure those frustrated by injustice that the Just Judge of all the earth has everything in hand and that He will work out His purposes to bring Glory to His Name are great things to rejoice about.
On the way home I was able to get some shopping for a dear elderly friend who was out of milk and needed some paracetemol. The poinsettia was to cheer her with the memory that Christmas is, once again, approaching. What a joy it is to be able to bless such a precious child of God with JUST what she needed!
Back at home I have a load of onions to peel, two large pans of mince to do for the freezer, chips to make, roses to plant, a cupboard to sort. All these things too are part of the plan for extending the kingdom - wonderful isn't it?!!