8 AM Orlando Avenue

Sunday morning 8 AM, driving south on Orlando Avenue I had the same experience as I did yesterday 8 AM driving south on Orlando Avenue. Here's what it looked like.

The car windows were open.  Early spring in Florida, breezes and sunshine. Not blaring sun, delightful sun. Driving to spend the day sitting with my dad in the hospital. 

Orlando Avenue is a four lane in-town road. I had just turned onto Orlando Avenue from Orange Avenue. Drove past a group of eight story tall buildings, then through a few blocks of residential with majestic eighty foot oak trees. The road opens up, is a bridge between the east and west lobes of Lake Estelle. To my right on the other side of the lake pops the towering twenty floors of my destination, Florida Hospital. I glance at it, strong and powerful. Dad is in there.

To my left, over the lake I see houses in the distance. But what catches my eye and my attention is the sun to the east. The clouds both days were the light gray quilted kind (I learned the names in eighth grade and have forgotten, sorry.) When the road opened up to the lake, I felt, literally felt, rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds and warming the left side of my face.

First thought Day One of sunshine on my cheek was, Good morning Lord. You are here, you are right here with me. You are sending warmth and love and peace. Thank you. Come with me and be with Dad. Be with us all day long. We ask you. Thank you.

First thought Day Two of sunshine on my cheek was, Wow God you are so amazing. Here you do this again, and I like it. Thank you for this moment of your Presence. Your Presence with me and with Dad, to carry this moment all day long like a penny in my pocket, closing my eyes and feeling it again during the day. We can do this together.

And then my prayer, May Dad be peaceful and trust you that you are taking care of him. May he be comfortable. May we feel your Presence all day today. May he feel my love, as that is my purpose today, that Dad sense my love, my compassion, and my peacefulness with his future. If I am scared, he will be scared. If I am confident God has him in his arms, Dad will be peaceful.

Well, I am confident God is in control. I am also thankful for God, as I wouldn't want to be doing this alone.

Painting on wall outside main elevator is of a surgery. Has doctors operating, and Jesus among them, guiding. Titled, Chief of Medical Staff. 

What a great way to start the day. Thank you Jesus!