We can conquer any crisis if we only reach out in love to our neighbours, whether next door or across the globe. JEANETTE LEVELLIE mind if I pray for your family?” Sweet Lessons My new friend was quick to reply. “Oh, that would mean so much to me, Jeanette. And I will pray for your family, too.” While she talked, I grabbed a bright orange sticky note and wrote her name on it. I stuck it to the bottom of my computer monitor where I’d see it often, and then told Ayeshi what I’d done. She thanked me several times and said that I’d made her day. Joy warmed my heart like a burst of sunshine breaking through grey clouds. I thought of the promise in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” While millions panicked and predicted dark days ahead, God connected two women from across
the world to give what each needed most—His help. While I’d fretted and wondered how good could result from this tragedy, the Lord already had a million plans in His heart. In a moment of divine love that reached over every barrier—language, culture and geography—He joined two very different people to give each other a bright ray of hope and grace. Only God could take something as horrible as a pandemic and make our world suddenly smaller, filling us with empathy for those we’ve never met. In the future, when all is well, I want to keep these sweet lessons etched in my heart. We need each other. We can conquer any crisis if we only reach out in love to our neighbours, whether next door or across the globe. God can—and will—bring good from everything that happens. Because He is good.
(left) Author of five books and hundreds of published articles, Jeanette Levellie and her husband make their home in Paris, Illinois. Jeanette’s hobbies include spoiling her three grandchildren, pampering her cats and inventing new ways to avoid housework. Find her splashes of hope and humour at www.jeanettelevellie.com. faithandfriends.ca I JUNE 2020
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