Last Thursday was Thanksgiving Day, and since we're visiting my parents, it's been a truly blessed week. I found this little poem written on a small picture frame in my mom's office:

Count your garden by the flowers it has, Never by the leaves that fall. Count your days by golden hours, Don't remember the dark clouds. Count your nights by the stars, not darkness, Count your years with smiles, not tears. Count your age by friends, not by years gone by. Count your blessings, not your troubles.

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My blessings for the week:1. For the Saturday afternoon we spent with dear friends, talking about God and His love.2. For spending a few days with my family, including my parents, brother, and nephews.3. For satisfying my longing for gardening, even away from home, by helping my parents with some plants.4. For the angels who are always by my side.5. For the car that kept going even without fuel.*

* These days, while praying specifically about a request that I feel is taking a long time to be answered, I asked God to give me at least a sign that He is listening to me and that He will send me the answer at the right time. Not that I doubt He is in control, but sometimes my faith is so small that I need a little sign simply to keep trusting, and God answered me like this…

Last Sunday, we were going to the church my parents attend, as my husband was scheduled to preach. When we tried to leave with our car, it wouldn't start. We tried several times, Sarinha prayed asking Jesus to help us, and eventually we discovered an engine problem that couldn't be fixed at that moment. My parents had already left for church, so we decided to use a second car they own.

We grabbed the keys and left the house, already a bit late. The car, already quite old, had a broken fuel gauge; we were a bit apprehensive when we left, but the car was running fine until about four kilometers from the church when it simply died in the middle of the road, a very typical sign of running out of fuel.

We didn't have our cell phone, and once again I prayed to God, asking Him to honor Sarinha's earlier request. My husband tried to start the car again, and it started normally, allowing us to reach the church. We attended the service, and when we left for home, we decided that my mother, I, and the girls would go in the newer car, and my father and husband in the old car, in case there were any problems.

We drove about five blocks while they followed us, and soon realized they were no longer behind us. We waited a bit, but nothing… So we drove back and there they were, stopped with the car completely out of fuel. We then realized that God had once again performed a miracle in our favor. The fuel had run out on the way to church, but God provided enough fuel until we arrived there to hold the service, and now that we had another car to take everyone home without issues, the fuel ran out and it wasn't such a big problem.

Well, but what does this incident have to do with my request to God? At first, nothing, but the next morning, while doing my devotion, I read a passage that I immediately recognized as an answer:

“Humanity is today the object of heavenly solicitude in the same way it was when common men, occupying ordinary positions, met angels in broad daylight and spoke with messengers in vineyards and fields. As we go about our common affairs, we can have Heaven very near. Angels from the courts above will attend the steps of those who go and come at God's command.” The Desire of Ages p. 48.

Sometimes God allows us to go through difficult times so that we remember He is taking care of us. I think that in my distress to see my prayer answered, I had forgotten about the continuous care of angels. May God help me to trust even when we don't see a visible sign of His care and love.

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