Tonight my sister asked if I’d be willing to write her blog.  I am honored, however, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. She’s the writer in the family, not me.  But what can I say?  She said I could write about absolutely anything, and as I sit pondering my options, all I can think of is her.  So here we go.

To coin her words, God was good to me on August 8, 1945 when he gave me my very own sister.  And he was good to allow us to stay together through the years.  He was good to let us live in close proximity to each other, and he was especially good to send us each seven children who we raised together.  You might say we have done life together, right from the very beginning, and it’s been good.

Even though we divided the room we shared as children with a good strong chalk line that kept one out of the other’s space, today things are good, and I don’t know what I’d do without her.  She is my confidant, my encourager, my example and my hero. She is a good sister, the best.

As you faithful blog readers know, the last year and a half have been heart wrenching for her, and though she misses Nate terribly, she hasn’t slipped into self pity and despair.  She told me, with God’s good help, she chooses to focus on the things she has in her life versus what she doesn’t have.  Over a good many years, I’ve become good at observing her, as well as being on the receiving end of the good she does, and I can say wholeheartedly this is true.  Even in her grief, she continues to make good investments in the lives of others through faithful prayer,  encouragement and good deeds.

Tonight, as I arrived in Michigan, good and tired, I was concerned about the pile of snow I’d have to shovel off the driveway.  But I should’ve known better.  Margaret and her good son Klaus had already been there, anticipating need and doing the mighty job of snow removal. You guessed it, the driveway looked good!

And now, as I sit in Marni’s good warm living room, typing away on her computer, which by the way is working good, I am overwhelmed by God’s goodness to me. As his Word says, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” I thank him for my sister, who is good and perfect for me, evidence of God’s grace and one of his greatest gifts.   Truly, God was especially good August 8, 1945 and I am blessed.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers (sisters) live together in unity…for there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”  Psalm 133

Yesterday the entire Midwest prepared for the worst blizzard since 1967. Bottled water and candles flew off the store shelves, and snow blowers stood gassed and ready. Living across Lake Michigan from Chicago, I wondered if we’d be as hard-hit by the storm, but yesterday afternoon the winds picked up, and we got our answer, 2” of snow every hour. Half way through writing last night’s blog post, the power shut off, a frustrating development. Neighbors on one side also went dark, but on the other side, they had lights.

Within ten minutes my faithful neighbor Bob, the same guy who installed the dishwasher, was standing at my back door looking like a snowman. He was holding the end of a very long extension cord, offering to share their power “…so you can finish your blog.” Thanks to him, I did.

This morning as I came to consciousness, the first thing I heard was a snow blower. And there was Bob again, just finishing my driveway and moving on to the next. His wife Linda was edging with her shovel, and I stumbled out there as soon as I could throw a coat over my pajamas. But the work had already been done, and once again I was overcome with gratitude for these selfless neighbors.

In addition to my driveway getting cleared of deep snow that would have taken me hours to shovel, God was busy doing something else. He was making good on his promise to take care of a widow. From his throne room he’d been watching everything happening on the earth. And while keeping track of the needs of 6,897,500,000 people, he even noticed me.

Without mitigating Bob and Linda’s superb snow removal effort, I want to also give credit to God for being the motivation behind their kindness. He has sent assistance and encouragement to me again and again, not only through my next-door-neighbors but also by way of other friends and even complete strangers.

Although I don’t have a husband to look out for me anymore, I have a “Heavenly Husband” who manages the job with flare by sending willing servants like Bob and Linda to be his hands and feet. In the 15 months since Nate died, these two have done more for me than I could ever repay.

But that’s the beauty of it. They aren’t looking for repayment. And because of that, like it or not, the deeds they do for me and others will be handsomely rewarded in the world to come. It’ll be “ka-ching, ka-ching” on their heavenly crowns as the finest jewels are added.

This morning after Bob and his blower had moved on down the road, Linda and I stood in the snowy street and talked. I said, “Do you ever worry he’ll overdo it?”

“Oh, I don’t worry. When he passed me just now he said, ‘Isn’t this fun’?”

“Ka-ching!”

“Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love. You reward everyone according to what they have done.” (Psalm 62:11-12)