Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  John 10:27

“What’s most important?” That was the question going through my mind while I was running errands on my day off. The answer was suddenly obvious: “Visiting Mary!” I’d been meaning to visit Mary, a member of my church who had returned home from the hospital a few weeks earlier, but I hadn’t gotten around to it. I changed course and headed for Mary’s house.

That afternoon, Mary told me of her love of reading and as a child riding the trolley to the town library. She asked me to read to her on my next visit, and I volunteered to read in the remaining time I had that afternoon. The book I read captivated us both, so I continued reading past the time I should have, finding it difficult to stop even then. I promised to come by every Friday afternoon to read to her and eagerly looked forward to my next visit.  Two days later, I was devastated to learn that Mary had died the day after my visit. There would be no more stories of Mary’s childhood, no more afternoons of reading together. But I am grateful to God for that afternoon. How many times have I known what is right and not acted upon it? Because I responded to God, my day took an unexpected turn — one that has helped me to remember what is most important: listening to God.

Dear God, help us to hear your voice and to obey your promptings. Amen.