God has been so tangible in the last three days, I just have to write these stories down before I forget. It started at work on Saturday. I was walking by the Cheerios (which I do every shift) and the Holy Spirit told me to buy them. I don't know why I would do that, because we're not big Cheerio fans, but I'm learning not to ignore that voice, so I bought the Cheerios. After work, I noticed that my gas tank was less than a quarter full, so I was considering getting gas, but it was windy and cold, so I decided to wait for a warmer day. God told me to get gas right then, so I did. I didn't even bother to question Him, because I'm learning. Just trust and obey (instead of argue and whine, which was my natural response). Got home and forgot all about both of those instances. The next morning, I found out that my dad was in the hospital with covid. I started thinking about what to bring for a day at the hospital. I packed my Bible and phone charger and figured that was all I really needed. On my way out, I saw the Cheerios sitting on the table, and suddenly I knew why I was supposed to buy them. I filled a Ziploc bag with them, made a PB&J sandwich, packed some fruit, and left with a full tank of gas, realizing why I was supposed to get gas the night before.
I parked in the deck and as I was walking across the skywalk, I stopped briefly to appreciate the view of the city from there. As I continued to walk to the hospital, God drew my attention to several beautiful things, like these:
OSF is actually starting to make sense to me now since I work there, but Methodist is still a mystery, so I asked Holy Spirit to guide me to Dad's room. All I had was a room number and no idea how to get there. I started walking, and it was almost like an out-of-body experience. My brain was not engaged, but I knew exactly where I was going. I walked past the Hamilton elevators and got on the Crescent ones. I knew which way to turn when I got off the elevator. I walked straight to his room. I've never been physically led by the Spirit before, but it was amazing!
After I'd been at the hospital for a few hours with Mom, we were hungry, so I whipped out my sad little picnic, and Mom exclaimed about how much she likes Cheerios. Then I knew why I was supposed to buy them. I told her about the gas and Cheerios, and she asked me what it's like to hear His voice. Dad was in critical condition with double covid pneumonia and completely unresponsive all day until Mom left. When I got back from walking her to the car, he was awake and coughing up lots of phlegm. I was trying to keep up with it with a suction hose and feeling alone and inadequate. Right then, Mike texted and asked if I wanted him to come, and I really did. Dad had only said 3 words to me the whole day ("cold" and "thank you" after I covered him with a blanket), but when Mike walked in, he was chatty and almost like his old self.
The next morning, I got a great parking spot in the deck, and on a ledge in front of my car were two little containers of red raspberry yogurt. I put them in my bag and got a couple spoons from the cafe in the hospital. Mom was happy to see it, because she hadn't eaten breakfast, and she likes that flavor and size. I hadn't eaten breakfast either, and I love red raspberry too. After we ate them, I told her that they were a gift to us from the Lord, and she said, "Thank You, Lord."
When we got to Dad's room, he was sitting up in a chair eating breakfast. He was much better than he was yesterday. In the afternoon, I decided to go home, but when I walked by the chapel on my way out, I found myself going in there. It was lovely and peaceful, and there was a really nice clavinova beckoning me to play it. Thinking over all the ways I'd seen God move in the last few days, I couldn't help but worship. After I did that for about half an hour, I felt like I should go back up to Dad's room. So I did, although I had no idea why. I had already told them I was leaving, made sure Mom knew how to get out, and said goodbye. When I got up to the 8th floor, there was Mom in the hall, lost and waiting for someone to give her directions. As I walked out with her, I knew why I had been sent back up there.
