On my drive between Ardmore and Pauls Valley I had these amazing thoughts of my life over the last few months and where I was physically, mentally and financially. As my hands were tingling for picking up the items at the Dollar Tree and my feet were aching from walking around the store, I just longed to be back to normal. I did not like my new normal physically. When my hands were not tingling as much or if I had any relief from the pain in my feet, then there something was going on with my stoma. Some days it would take all day just to take care of me. But I would push through the pain, push through the excessive cleaning of my bag, and dealing with the demands and requests from the publisher for the book. As I thought about the condition I was in, I started reflecting back on my morning and what I was getting ready to do. I thought about the joy I had when taking my time shopping around in the store and how I was not rushed. I thought about how I enjoyed doing for others and not having to worry about the amount of money I spent (even though I was in Dollar Tree). I thought about all these years and how God has gifted me to be able to take something that costs little of nothing and with the vision through the Holy Spirit make it into something beautiful. I thought about how I was on my way to the Dollar Tree without anything preventing me to complete my vocation. Then I thought to myself, this is my “restoration”. I thought to myself, “I have been restored’. I said out loud, “Thank you Jesus”. I said out loud, “Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!! O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1.
