Odd Day

Today was a very odd day in a rather odd week.

We had a Valentine's Day party today at our ladies' coffee hour. It went very well until the midway break. Someone (and I wish I could remember who) came up to me and told me that one of our church ladies was dying. Now this was not a total surprise because this dear lady has been in the hospital twice in the past few months and was already there for a couple of weeks on oxygen. Also we had a larger than normal number of deaths last year and the trend seems to be continuing. However this lady seemed to be improving.

Her husband is one of our babysitters for coffee hour and when I watched him leave to see his wife, I totally believed the story. Fortunately I only shared this message with a couple of leaders - not the whole group and, after we prayed for her, we moved on with the programme.

I felt extremely sad because this lady is one of those special ladies that makes everyone feel special while thinking that she has no particular gifts.

When I got home at lunch time, I got a call from the minister's wife telling me that the lady is NOT dying. In fact she is well enough to be discharged tomorrow. I felt terrible - glad that she is not dying but terrible that I had upset so many women. I had to call several people and apologize for spreading this falsehood.

Although I cannot remember who told me, I do know that it was someone whose word I trusted and did not doubt for a moment that the story was true.

I feel like a fool.