On My Mind (03/21/2024)

This morning, as I reached up into my cupboard for a cup for my coffee, I saw the cup my precious niece sent me with the words “love ya, mean it” written upon it. I recalled the day I received it in the mail, a complete surprise. And as I read the note that she sent with it, she shared that I came to mind when she saw it. And I was filled with love and joy all over again as I realized that I was on her mind and in her heart.

I put on my coat to go to my porch for morning prayer and as I walked past my curio shelf, I spotted the Lenox angel with the “Rejoice” banner from a friend. I’d found it by my front door, a surprise again. With it was a note from my friend explaining why I was on her mind and how it caused her to share this special angel with me. And the joy within me increased.

When I came back in for a refill of coffee, the bear with a shamrock caught my eye. He sits on my shelf to remind me of friends I’d helped out a bit when they were going through some rough times because of an injury. I recalled the day I got it in the mail and the note that accompanied it. She’d picked it out because I was on her mind. And I smiled as I returned to the porch and admitted to the LORD that I was seeing the trend.

I headed in after prayer, looked again at the angel and the bear with the shamrock sitting among the collection of Lenox, most which came from my daughter who is always on the lookout for me. She does it out of love for me. I picked up one of the pieces she’d recently gave me and remembered her joy when she gave it to me. I felt blessed that I was on her mind so often.

And then I walked here to my desk, sat down and looked up, with no real idea of what I would write about today and there it was – the sculpture from a young woman I was mentoring – a sculpture of the pierced hand of Christ. She had made it specifically for me because I was on her mind. I recalled the day she and her mother came to visit and she presented me with it. It took my breath away when I looked at it, so true to life.

And then our LORD who writes straight with crooked lines finally brought me to the point this winding road of loving memories was always intended to lead me – my loving Savior upon the cross – giving His life for love of me – I was on His mind that day.

We are only a few days away from the beginning of Holy Week and the celebration of the Tridium and Easter. It is a time for remembering the great story of salvation won in the amazing way. It is a time for remembering that the events weren’t played out by chance but on purpose – the sacrifice for us was intentional. It’s a time for remembering with all we are the love that brought Jesus to that cross on Calvary that day. It’s a time to remember He did all this out of love – each of us was on His mind.

May this day be blessed by the realization of the LORD’s love for us and of the LORD’s constant care. We are always on the LORD’s mind. May this day be one in which we spend considerable time intentionally with the LORD on our mind, in our heart.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.