Yesterday was a very good day disguised in a very bad day.

It started the night before where a display of self-righteousness via texting ruined my already sad Sunday.

Overnight stomach problems confined me in bed till noon in my Hotel.
After shower I discover that I was missing several socks, only to find out that they were at the bottom of my bed inside between the fitted and flat sheets.
There they were as evidence that my Hotel maid did not only not make my bed well but did not change the sheets.
I told the manager that the only thing that I really use daily in his Hotel was the sheets and the pillowcases.
That I leave every morning a tips for the maid but this time I did not leave any tip as the expression of my disapproval.
The manager was well educated and polite and diffused my grumpy old man attitude.

I hit the road to find a sea food restaurant around 3 pm for brunch and dinner.
By the time I came back to Long Beach it was already 5 pm and I decided to visit The Queen Mary Ship in the bay, I was hardly one hour there but long enough to be told that I was over one hour and I must pay $18.00.
No amount of argument make the man blink and his partner made him feel stronger while I was going ballistic, not so much for the amount of money but my sense of justice being challenged.
I demanded a receipt that took literally 4 to 5 minutes that accentuated my suspicions that there was a “Monkey business and collusion” at the “Queen Mary Gate”.
Finally a little paper was produced and the arm of the gate did not open and the Sun was against my eyes that I almost crashed against the gate arm.
I was glad that I no longer preached and almost happy to be a retired “minister”.

The only problem of being my own boss is that I am a slave driver with myself and harder than any boss I have ever known.
Literally I send myself to the corner facing the wall in my Hotel and my room is almost a block away from the elevator.
I walk in the room to find a spotless bed like an army bed well made and really with five pillows stack up one over the other and one in the middle.
I was supposed to be grumpy but a smile betray my face and I fall on the bed and ruined the otherwise work of art on bed making.
Some how I did not feel proud of my Monday.

My wi-fi kicked in in my room and I had some conciliatory texts and forgot my petty party.
As it is typical in a Hotel for me it is either sports or news.
Breaking News,
Peter Strzok from the FBI has been fired.
That was good news for me but some how “ I do not find pleasure with the downfall of the wicked” either.

The last rays of the Sun shining through the window drove me to the snack bar and I had some lentil soup and come back to my room to watch more news before I slept.
I was still feeling hungry and as I was looking for my pajamas a large bowl full of all kinds of fruit was there not noticed that for a moment I thought I was on the wrong room.
Four bottles of water and juices in a cooler with ice like those that are used for champagne.
Plums from Chile, seedless grapes, strawberry, apples, oranges, pears and navy blue cloth napkins and silverware for two.
I know most people will think that was the way the nice manager was apologizing.
That is partially the case. To me this was from the Lord to tell me that he was not angry with me at my temper tantrum early in the morning and at nightfall with the maid and the gate keeper.

Since 2 a m in the morning I have been up and studying the word and writing this letter to testify to one and all that the Love of God is not like the love of the world that only loves you when you are a good little boy or a good little girl.
It is not when I am a good little boy when I need love and assurance,
I need love when I do not deserve love.
It is by grace we are saved by the changeless and immutable love of God.

It took almost four hours to realize the Love of God afresh and scream to myself in childlike faith “My Papa loves me always”.
It is past 4:30 am and I had to get up at two and pop some cool seedless grapes and smile in gratitude and go back to bed for a nap because I am going to the Catalina Islands at 9:00 am.
I go back to bed almost hearing by faith in a child like manner our Lord Jesus telling Archangel Gabriel.
“Hey Gabe, did you see Gerry eating grapes at 2 am in the morning?”
“I love my Gerry and my Gerry loves me.

We love each other.
YES!

Gerry Gutierrez