Your Suddenly! It's Coming.

"Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose."   ... Acts 16:26

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Only sections of our streets resembled an ice rink yesterday so I declared, "This morning I'll walk to the coffee shop." So after getting dressed (no tiny feat when wearing winter layers), I couldn't find my driver's license--oh no! 

Of course, I don't need it for a short walk, but hey. Forgive me my idiosyncrasies.

Man, I searched through my card stack 3 times, looked elsewhere, gave-up, then even began an online DMV form, when oh! I recalled where I'd put my license. 

Wow. I exclaimed,"Thank-you Jesus, like, four katrillion times!" and my later icy walk to the coffee shop felt like pure celebration.

Yes, mine is a simple life.  😉

The only customer inside the tiny sun-splashed cafe, I liked to think of my entry as an encouragement. I greeted the only attendant, ordered a large coffee and lemon scone, then sank gratefully at my usual Formica table in the window.  I gazed out at the tall hotel and river across the street and thought about all my recent Suddenlies. 

Remember those? Your life is going one (sad-ish) way then Suddenly! A vibrant, glad change happens. 

Suddenly! this coffee shop appeared while I kicked myself for not visiting the defunct previous one I'd actually asked God to bring.

Suddenly! I'm reading like crazy again since Naomi gave me the iPad which I can carry to our bright dining area (rather than Kindle-read in this darkish office).

And suddenly! I recalled my obsessive exciting work on my second online photo book when just last November I'd thought, "Scrapbooks, for me, are so 20 years ago. Bor-ing." 

And you know? Earlier while browsing all those photos I'd experienced another Suddenly! I 'heard' Clarence's voice, you know, the way he told this to George in It's a Wonderful Life--


"You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life."


Yes. Put ol' Debra's name in there and you've got truth. These New York decades shine brightest of them all.

Please rejoice over all your own Suddenlies, ok?


When that cough suddenly disappears.
When your relationship suddenly heals.
When, suddenly, this month's bills all got paid.
When a friend suddenly contacts you after a long time.
When your head suddenly stops hurting.
When you step outside and realize suddenly! It's Spring.
When, suddenly, you recall where you'd placed something!
When you suddenly understand why things happened as they did.


Oh, Life is fluid! Suddenlies arrive, so please, never quit. Never lie down in the road, lingering so to die, for your next Suddenly is rushing to you through the avenues of Faith and Time. And when it comes? You'll be thrilled that you waited.

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"But the multitude of your enemies will become like fine dust ... and it will happen instantly, suddenly."   --- Isaiah 29:5

"Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once."   --- Matthew 15:28

"I (God) declared the former things long ago And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass."   --- Isaiah 48:3



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Aww... This early morning I read that my very favorite Jr. High teacher, Mrs. James, passed away only last August. 

She taught French  and I'd have sworn she'd just deboarded the plane from having lived in France (oh, her classy clothes!), but no, not according to her obituary. Yet always, Mrs. James will represent all things French-exotic, chic, dreamy and kind to me. What a strong influence she was to this timid mouse lots of decades ago. 

For decades and decades she was a dear lady to so many.

And I must add this smile---- 

Whenever someone in French class said, "I'm done with the test," (or whatever), Mrs. James would always quip, "Only cakes get done!"

Oh, the times I've remembered that these past 45 years (and quipped those words, myself. Just ask Tom.).  😊

One more--in 8th grade I crocheted Mrs. James a long brown winter scarf for Christmas and I was thrilled to pieces when she wore it to school one day. As she left for home, she told me, "I'm going to wear my scarf so I'll stay warm."

And that kept *me* warm inside for a month.




(If you'd like to read about Muriel James, please go here.)


(The above photo of Mrs. James? It was probably taken 10 years, or so, after I met her. Wasn't she beautiful?)



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