Every Day is a Blessing by Doris DeRespino


My life of faith began long before I understood it. My parents were very loving, and I always felt safe! Growing up in the Moravian Church in New York City, faith was simply part of my life from the beginning. I learned early that God is present in everyday life.

For many years, we ran a hunting lodge, and weekends were so busy that I did not attend church regularly. But life changed when we moved to Patten. I started attending church again—no one formally invited me; I simply began going and felt comfortable right away. Over time, the church became my family.

My faith has always been simple. Every morning I wake up happy. Even when things go wrong, I believe everything will work out—maybe not the way we expect, but the way it is supposed to be. I used to tell my children that all the time; later, they realized it was true.

The Word That Guides Me

One of my favorite Bible verses is Galatians 5:22–23:



“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control.”

I keep that verse posted where I can see it. I want those fruits of the Spirit to be visible in my life. Another verse I love reminds me that human plans cannot stand against the Lord; God’s plans are always greater than ours.

Service and Unexpected Blessings

My husband passed away when I was only fifty-seven. During twenty years of living alone, I worked at the library and as an outreach worker for the state, caring for the elderly. Later in life, an unexpected blessing came. I felt strongly that God’s divine intervene that I should make a birthday cake for a church friend who had lost his wife with no children. We began spending time together and realized we had fallen in love. We spent four very happy years together before he passed—years that felt like an extra gift from God. George had my children, and I felt I needed to.

I try to follow what I feel God is asking me to do. Sometimes it is simple, like reaching out to a friend like Denise when she was struggling with depression. Small acts of care make a big difference. I also served in the church media for over twenty years, learning how to use computers for worship, and helped Sharon make hundreds of pancakes for the after-school program. Something as simple as a pancake can show God’s love.

A Life of Trust

The church community is my family. We live our faith together. When I think about my life, I remember a poem I want read at my funeral. It asks: Did anyone feel happier because you passed their way? Did you leave behind kindness? I do not claim to be wise or perfect. I simply try to live each day with faith. I trust that God is guiding me, so I rarely feel anxious. I believe that whatever happens, God will work it out. That faith gives me calmness and joy. Every day is a blessing.

 

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