The Wink… by JoAnn

Have you ever had something good happen to you, a little gift to help you through your day? Something that made you feel that a higher power, or the universe, was looking out for you. I have had many of these things happen to me. I believe they are God’s gift to me, and I like to call them “Winks .”God winking at me and saying, “I’ve got this”. Helping me out by making my day easier and letting me know He sees and loves me. I believe these little winks happen to all of us. But we must be paying attention.

One afternoon, I went through the drive-thru at Taco Bell. I had been running errands all afternoon; it was a warm day with no AC in my car, and I was dog-tired. I decided to pick up something quick to take care of my dinner. I got up to the window to pay for my meal and realized I was about a dollar short. I had ordered the $5 value meal, so I was embarrassed. I told the older lady I did not have enough and would need to cancel my order. She smiled, handed me my meal, and said, “God bless you, I’ve got it!”. That, my friends, was a wink. Yes, He used one of His children to give me a blessing, but that’s okay. Never did I think I would be in tears pulling out of the drive-thru at Taco Bell.

That experience was only one of many I have received just lately. One day, I stopped at Subway for a sandwich, just to be told the people ahead of me had paid for my order. One day, I was in the checkout line in the supermarket and, again, needed more to cover the total. As I stood there embarrassed at how I had miscalculated my grocery list and wondering what items to put back, a young man stepped up and said, “I’ve got it mam!”. He paid for my entire grocery order.

Yesterday, after feeling sick all week and not being able to get anything accomplished, I found myself feeling much better. I decided to drive to town and get some much-needed items from the store. I drove around on the back roads for a while, drinking in the fresh air. What a good day it was, and I was thankful to be feeling well again. I talked to my Lord as I drove, as I always do. When I pulled into my driveway, as soon as I parked, I heard the call of Canadian Geese. Honk, honk! I love that sound! I quickly got out of my car and looked up. There came the V, about 12 geese in perfect alignment, honking as they made their joyful flight. Then came another V and, amazingly, a third V. My heart was overjoyed at the sight and sounds of those beautiful birds. I smiled and thought to myself, “Now that’s a wink! You see, the Lord and I have a thing about birds. They are my favorite thing in nature. Whenever I see a special sighting, I always thank Him for the gift.

What winks have you received lately? Have you been paying attention? Oh, I know all too well the heaviness of the world today. It grieves my soul. But I believe the little things still matter. They can still give us a smile and a thankful heart. They can uplift our day and help us make it through one more.

Here’s hoping each of you receives a wink or two this week, and that you remember where it comes from with a thankful heart.