An afternoon in my life

I had an interesting afternoon yesterday... And some aspects of it may have passed me by, but I'm grateful that I was able to notice what was happening...

Firstly, on my way to work, which is quite late in the morning ;o), it was raining quite hard, and I was noticing again that my windscreen wipers weren't working as well as they should. Then as I was on the N2, and pretty close to the Main Road turn off the one blade suddenly turned perpendicular to the angle it should be, leaving a metal hook type thing against the glass. So I immediately turned off my windscreen wipers to avoid scratching my windscreen, and they wouldn't have done any good. But thankfully this was late enough in the day that there wasn't much traffic on the road. So instead of going to UCT, I took the Main Road turnoff instead and went to Andrew's office, and he was able to save the day. So miracle number 1 - there was hardly any traffic, so I could drive slowly, and Andrew was able to fix the windscreen wiper without too much hassle.

Then after work Joshua and I went grocery shopping, and he behaved pretty well, which is a bit of a miracle on its own... Normally I carry my handbag on my shoulder, but sometimes its too heavy and uncomfortable, and I decided that I would rather put it in the trolley and then put the groceries on top of it. Just a small thought, but then as I was putting Joshua into the car at the end, and I had my bag on my shoulder again I heard a tearing noise, and the little looseness in the handle of my bag had turned into a big one that in another 10 seconds would have broken completely. So miracle number 2 - I didn't have the contents of my hand bag strewn all over the floor of Pick n Pay, which would probably have caused further problems with Joshua.

So with these two things happening I decided that I really must go and buy the handbag that I'd seen while shopping for Fathers Day, but I'd umm-ed and aah-ed because it's cost more than what I'd normally spend on a bag, and also at the same centre there's a place to buy car parts, so I also got the windscreen wipers. But while buying the bag I glanced at the entrance to the shop and there was a sister from my ward (and this really is a random shop to run into people at...) and she looked a bit upset, and then after talking a bit she told me that her daughter definitely does need the help with her accounting that we'd discussed last month but then didn't go through with because she didn't do well in her June exam. And also I gave her a suggestion for getting a birthday gift up to her son in Joburg because Colleen and Rohan are driving up next week. So miracle number 3 - I was in a totally random place and able to hopefully cheer up this sister, and also give some help for her children.

Then I went into a clothing shop to get a couple things, and while I was in the queue I thought I really should draw some money to have enough to pay our maid on Thursday and for while we're away. So after paying for the clothes I went to the ATM, open my wallet and my credit card isn't there - I had left it in the machine at the shop (these new chips cards a bit of a hassle in some ways...) So I was able to go back immediately and get my card without any problems. So miracle number 4 - I had a completely random thought, before I even forgot my credit card, which enabled me to retrieve it before going home and possibly only noticing that it was missing today or tomorrow.

I got home, and as I thought about all of these things I couldn't help but be thankful for the guidance of Heavenly Father. Such small things in some ways, but each important in their own small way.

Andrew found this talk recently by President Henry B Eyring that has made a big impact on him. This is just a quote from it:

"I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.
"More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."
(Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 66–69)

I certainly often see God's hand in my life, and I am very grateful for His love and intervention that makes my life what it is!