God works in his own time.

HIS will toward our good

on HIS time.

And now a story…

Many years ago, I became friends with a paper artist in Napa.  Her name is Orna. Orna and I had joy talking about art.  We also worked together on art projects.  Then I moved to Patmos Greece.

When I lived on Patmos with my four children; Orna came to visit.  She came about once a year.  We traveled on road trips together.  We made artist paper on the island. With found objects we explored the limits of paper and its inherent strength to include these objects.  We had laughs and were good friends.  I supported myself and my children through the sales of my artwork with exhibits and through sales to individuals traveling to the island yearly. There were several of us who had created an ‘art-trail’ for travelers to see our studios and to support our lifestyle.

Years later unexpectedly; I returned to Napa with my children, including my youngest son Will’s broken foot.  Will needed therapy every week.  This was impossible given we lived on a distant island with no medical staff.

My return to Napa did not come easy.  The kids had to begin school with friends they had not yet made.  I had no work and was a single mom.

One of many blessings was that Grandma’s house was vacant and we had a home to live in.  We shared this home with my parents in many ways.  They were adjusting to living at the Veteran’s Home in Yountville.  They would come and live as they had at Grandma’s house (during the daylight hours) and return to sleep at the Home at night.  They opened Grandma’s door with their key, would arrive at any hour and make coffee and enjoy the house.  They would have dinner parties then leave everything for me to clean up.  They also enjoyed trying to make endless suggestions to me about what I should be doing.  This was their way of loving me.

My parents did not appreciate my friendship with Orna.  She considered me a very good artist, supported my endeavors to continue this work in Napa and was fearless in letting my parents know this.  My parents disagreed with her thinking.  They would seemingly sabotage any idea or effort I made to work toward the goal of artist.  Rather, they suggested that I get a quick job at In and Out and bring in a little money.   It was a difficult time for me.  I dropped my friendship with Orna and went on to surrender to my parents’ misunderstanding of my life.

Orna and I had not seen each other since 2000.

Less than a week ago I was in Vallerga’s market picking up some food to make a salad for Charlie Hoffman’s memorial.  Orna was in the check stand next to mine.  I looked in her face and said, “It’s good to see you Orna.”  She listened.  After we had checked out our grocery items; I approached her and said, “Orna, if you have a few minutes, I’d like to make amends to you.”  She said, “Ok, but let me get a coffee first.”

I hadn’t even known that I needed to ask Orna for forgiveness.  I had actually forgotten about this part of my life long ago.  Jesus planted in me the understanding of HIS will (in the time it takes a heart to beat) and brought Orna directly to me to accomplish this (with no effort from me).  HE put into place events that could have challenged my reason of time.  HE made this graceful event possible.

I let Orna know how sorry I was that I had dropped her friendship.  We spoke kindly to one another asking questions about each others lives and reminisced about the times we had on Patmos.

Please pay attention because this part is incredible.

I asked Orna what she had been working on.  She told me she had been working on quilts; I let her know that I had just finished one. I told her I found a woman in Richmond who is a skilled long-arm quilter.  She had just finished my quilt.  Orna told me she is the president of the guild this woman (the long-arm quilter) belongs to.  What a coincidence, yes…?

A month ago, I picked my Mom up from her friend’s house in El Sobrante.  Gay and Mom have been friends since junior high school.  Mom is 88.  They have been friends a long time!

Gay told me she has a quilt in a show set for this Saturday and Sunday, March 17th-18th.  Gay told me she is unable to go.  She hands me a ticket and urges me (several times) to make sure I use the ticket and get to the show.  The show is sponsored by the guild that Orna is president of.

Do you see?  I would have run into Orna at this quilt show without Grace and without Forgiveness. Because Jesus is more Gracious and Merciful than this; HE made better plans for me.

Jesus, capable of piecing together years and memories, hurt and friendship, sorrow and loss, made it possible for me to resolve an old burden. By joining all these things together along with two old friends in line at a market- HE proved again to me how he is not bound to the timing of my understanding.  He is able to bend time, join people and serve up big dishes of Grace.  HE proves faithful to my trust.  HE heals me and restores me even if I don’t recognize my faults or comprehend my needs.

I hope in this missile you are able to see the praise I give to Jesus and the gratitude for uncovering an old ill and offering healing in its place.

I hope that I am always able to give, in my humble way, praise to HIM -however small it seems to me.  He takes on my work, gives me opportunity to heal, even when time has made forgotten my fault. HIS time has forgiven my fault.

Jesus, I publicly thank you from my heart.  May I always bid your will and serve you- endless and timeless…

Thank You Jesus.

I love you.

Shelly