I’ve had some truly amazing experiences, but the one that leaps to the forefront of my memory involves and beautiful white dove.

There was a period of about 6 years when my grandkids were small that I would spend Friday nights up at the church, providing worship music non-stop so that others could connect with the Lord, and just worshipping and enjoying the Lord’s presence.  One Friday evening I was driving on the highway headed to church and traffic was extremely heavy.  Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a beautiful white dove came alongside my front right quarter panel.  I was traveling between 55-60 miles an hour, keeping up with traffic, and that white dove traveled right along beside me, staying on my quarter panel.  When I finally reached the turn-off to head to the church, the dove turned off with me!  And then, as there was little to no traffic on this little side road, it flew away.  

That beautiful dove has an average sustained flying speed of 45 mph.  Yet, this one stayed with me at 60 mph for almost five miles.

I know I can over-spiritualize things sometimes, and I probably will again. Yet I am certain the Holy Spirit was watching over me and accompanying me safely to my destination.  And it was an incredible night of worship!

I think when you look for God to show up in your daily life, you begin to see just how often He tries to make Himself known to you, and you begin to rest in a peace that passes all understanding as you realize He is right with you all of the time. I’ve had instances where the Holy Spirit gripped the steering wheel and literally got me out of danger, and times when people would fall back when I approached them. I’ve even been in the midst of huge crowds and watched as they parted for me, much in the same way the Red Sea parted for the Israelites! These things are all the work of the Holy Spirit of God and I am just a vessel — a living stone in His temple. What a mighty God we serve!

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.

I love to do things that surprise and bless others and I have, many times, given rides to strangers or bought them lunch and even, a thousand miles from home, paid for someone else’s meal in the drive-through lane.

Yet, I was blown away and collapsed in tears when one morning I stopped for a cup of coffee (a rare occurrence) and when I got to the register was told that someone had already paid for me.  I was dumbfounded, overwhelmed and completely undone.  Kindness in any form, even on the television, always makes me tear up.  Life has been very hard on me and I have had to harden myself in order to cope.  So things that are horrible have less of an emotional impact upon me than kindness does, because my life has been bereft of kindness.  Abuse I understand.  Terror I understand.  Manipulation I understand.  Neglect I understand.  Emotional absence I understand.  But kindness?  Love?  Gentleness?  

Those tears that fell that day were cleansing and uplifting.  At a very alone moment in my life, Jesus showed up in the form of a stranger in the checkout lane.  His kindness drove me to my knees and I wept and thanked Him.

There is a Scripture verse:  Psalm 18:35  “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.”

Gentleness moves mountains.  Gentleness melts hearts.  Gentleness turns anger into meekness.  Gentleness brings healing.

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”  I have seen this in action, when angry and frustrated people are met with gentleness and kindness, their entire demeanor changes and they are instantly calm.

Be gentle.  Be kind.  Be sweet.  And watch God move mountains for you!