Lizzy was sitting at the dining room table admiring the framed puzzles on the wall while Jim made coffee. It had been several years now since they had finished Jim’s puzzle. It was funny because every time Lizzy and Jim thought they had discovered everything the puzzles could reveal, someone would discover something they had never considered. Lizzy smiled at her own thought, "God’s work is never done. There is always something that needs doing." Lizzy noticed the frames needed dusting. As she got up, Lizzy felt a strange tightening across her chest. It started to become very uncomfortable. She was able to yell, “Jim!” just before she lost consciousness and fell to the floor.
Lizzy lost all concept of time. She remembers barely opening her eyes and seeing Jim’s worried face over hers. He was holding her hand and it felt like they were moving. She could hear sirens wailing. Breathing was very difficult and she let her eyes close again.
The next time Lizzy opened her eyes she instantly smiled. An incredible warm light seemed to radiate from the most beautiful face she had ever seen! Mary, the Virgin Mother of God was standing beside her! Mary returned her smile and said,”How are you feeling Lizzy?”
Lizzy looked down and saw the IVs and monitor leads. “I’m in a hospital? I don’t remember coming here. I was at home. Jim was making me coffee. I was looking at the puzzles. I think I got up...hmm....I don’t remember.....I don’t remember what I did next.”
“That’s because you had a heart attack,” informed Mary.
Lizzy started to shake. “ Oh, my gosh, am I dead?”
“No. Jim called 911 and did CPR until the ambulance came.”
“Oh, poor Jim. That must have been so hard on him. Is he okay?”
“Yes, Jim is pretty upset. He is very worried about you, but he is okay. How are you Lizzy?”
“ I feel a little strange. My body feels heavy and my mind feels cloudy."
“I’m not surprised. They have given you a lot of medication.”
“What should I do?” Lizzy wondered.
“Would you like to pray?” asked Mary.
“That would be wonderful,” replied Lizzy. “Is that why you are here?”
“Yes, Jim has been praying nonstop. He has begged for my intercession and God has granted his request.”
“Praise God! Thank you for this special blessing. Mary can I ask you something before we pray?”
“What would you like to know?”
“Is God pleased with me? Am I doing His Will?” Lizzy humbly asked.
Mary smiled. “Knowing God’s Will can sometimes be puzzling.”
“Yes, yes I agree. I kept praying to know God’s Will, and then He sent me a puzzle. I continued praying the entire time I worked on the puzzle. Jim helped me, and the kids helped me, and even my grandkids helped me. There were times that I thought I would never complete the puzzle, and then I would go to Mass, pray, receive the Holy Eucharist, and when I got home more of the pieces fit together! As the puzzle revealed things I felt so inspired. I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to do things. I did my best to respond, but I never felt like I had completed the puzzle.”
Mary smiled. “You only see one dimension of the puzzle. If you saw all the other dimensions you would be completely amazed! You thought you were working on discovering God’s Will, and you were, but at the same time you helped your whole family discover God’s Will in their lives. The puzzle had a message, but you were the messenger. As you talked about your faith and discovering God’s Will you sparked joy and curiosity in the others. They began searching for the Truth right alongside you. They watched you pray, they watched you wonder, they listened not because you were preaching, but because you drew them into God’s mystery. They watched and helped you decipher God’s plans and were inspired when you acted on these inspirations. They fell in love with God as they became a part of your loving relationship with God. It is all so beautiful! You are not able to see all dimensions right now, but when you come home to your Heavenly Father all will be revealed.”
“Are you taking me there now?” Lizzy asked.
“No. It’s not time yet. I’m here to pray with you so that you may become stronger. You were right. There are still things for you to discover in your puzzle, and things you will help Jim discover in his puzzle. I have been allowed to tell you that someone in your family has also been praying very hard to know God's Will. They will soon be receiving their own puzzle and will need your help."
Lizzy smiled. "We have all been so blessed! Will you please tell the Lord how grateful I am?"
"I definitely can let Him know. I have one more special message to share with you. This is for you." Mary placed a small puzzle piece in Lizzy's hand. "This is the piece that joins your puzzle with your mother's puzzle. She has been praying very hard for you, too."
"It's from my Mom?!" Lizzy's eyes filled with tears of love.
"Are your ready to pray now?" Mary asked.
"Yes, please," Lizzy answered.
Mary led Lizzy in prayer and when she grew weary, Mary lovingly embraced her and prayed for both of them. Before Mary left, she spiritually joined Jim in his prayers so that he would be strengthened with God's love as well.
It was several hours later when Lizzy opened her eyes again. She saw Jim in a chair next to her. She reached out to squeeze Jim's hand and whispered, "I'm going to be ok, Jim. Thank you for your prayers."
Jim had never been more grateful to hear Lizzy's voice. He leaned over a kissed her forehead. Lizzy smiled and whispered, "I love you," before closing her eyes again.
Her grip on Jim's hand relaxed, and that's when Jim felt something between their hands. He turned Lizzy's hand over and saw a small puzzle piece. Jim shook his head in disbelief. "Where in the world did this come from?" he thought to himself. He put the puzzle piece in his pocket for safe keeping. "I can't wait to see where this fits in." He smiled at the thought, and then continued to pray.
-Susan
0 yorum:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.