Greetings to All!
I will write frequently of my mentor, my friend and confidant', Dr. G. Ellis Sandoz, Jr. Dr. Sandoz to me. I think of him everyday. There were bits of wisdom he planted in my life that keep his memory alive and well. Today I lingered on a journal writing dated October 28, 2024. I noted the the day of his death which was Sepember 19, 2023. I noted that the grief I felt after his death had lingered more than the loss of others in my life. It seemed to have been letting go of me after ten or eleven months. I took some time on that morning to talk to God about this special, holy messenger God had sent my way. I said, "God you sent this wonderful man into my life and he created such a marvelous part of my journey. Thank you Father for allowing his life to cross with my life. I am stronger Lord because of it. I believe more in myself because of Dr. Sandoz. My faith is stronger because of my time with him. He simply helped me BELIEVE in myself. He also helped me to believe all things are possible, to know that my actions had consequences (bad or good). Our actions seal the covenant with God. What we say, what we do are all evidence of what type of faith we possess."
God has used his voice many times to get my attention. I thought about the wisdom he imparted unto me through Dr. Sandoz. How blessed I am by just his memory. I can still here him say as he walked by my desk, "You are better than this Wanda." I was his assistant for fourteen years and for at least ten of those years he encouraged me to finish my degree and press on. In those ten years I begin to believe because he would not let me forget what I was capable of.
Once he retired and moved to Pensacola, I visited him every four to six months until he died. When I was diagnosed with cancer, he just would not accept that God had planned this. When I went to visit after my chemo treatments he shared with me the conversation he had with God when he heard I had cancer. He said, "Wanda, I discussed your situation with God. First I came before God and asked why? Why her? She has traveled the straight and narrow. She has not strayed. What are you going to do about this Lord? Surely you have a plan to heal, to rescue and restore." He was very passionate in expressing his feelings. He then looked me straight in the eye and said, "I have requested that he take me instead of you because you have so much more to accomplish. So Wanda, if I should die in this time of recovery for you, just know I have requested such." Its hard to put into words what I felt. It was truly a taste of agape love (God's way of loving). Of course, I sent my own prayer up. My prayer was that God not take Dr. Sandoz but allow him to live and see the miracle he was going to perform in my life. I am happy to say God answered. He healed me completely and restored my life and Dr. Sandoz lived. This was the year 2019.
His last words to me before he had his stroke were, "Wanda, God loves you. He has tremendous plans for your life. You are loved." Those words I will treasure. Do you have a special person in your life that has helped you become the best version of yourself? If they are alive, share your feelings with them. Thank them for the journey. Let them know God used them in a mighty way to make your life better. These people are chosen by God and he places them on your journey. They are God's feet and hands in your life. His feet to keep up with you and to steer you in the right direction. His hands to embrace you, love you and make you feel worthy of his love. They are a constant reminder of what God has in store for you. If you are blessed by a holy messenger, thank God everyday for their presence in your life and give him the glory for that person.
PEACE
Wanda
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