Do you have any "nameless" slips in your box? Any "random strangers"?
We don't always know who God is going to put in our path. We don't know his plans or the good works that he prepared in advance for us today!
But there are people all around us, if we open our eyes, to whom we can shine a light. Maybe it is giving out a smile! Maybe it is acknowledging the barista who made your coffee or being appreciative to the person who served us at the checkout. Maybe it is noticing our fellow commuters or the bus driver. Maybe you could buy a bunch of flowers and give out a flower to every person who looks like they need a reason to smmile today. Maybe there are material needs that you could meet right in front of you. We just don't know who might be part of our mission of loving today. So we need to be ready! Why? Check out these verses from Matthew 25:34-40:
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or maked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
So be on the lookout today and see where there are needs that you could meet - loving them and loving God as you Love40days.
Last Monday I had a doctors appointment in the afternoon to get my ankle checked out. The doctor referred me to the hospital for an xray and blood test. By the time I got home from the doctors it was just after 3pm. Being my day off I really wanted to get it all done in the day so I didn't have to take extra time off work, but the xray and blood test departments close at 4.30pm and they get very busy. Anyway I decided I would give it a go and see if I could fit it all in. I whizzed down to Beckenham Beacon to find the car park chock a block and a big queue... no spaces! So I headed for the nearest side road and thankfully found a parking space. I was just approaching the hospital and I could see an elderly gentlemen tottering along the road, clearly having some difficulty walking. As I approached he waved me down and asked if I would help him cross the road as he needed to get to the bus stop on the other side. "of course I will" I said and we headed back the way he had just come towards the pedestrian crossing..... very slowly! We got across the road and I asked him if he would like me to walk him to the bus stop, "yes please if you don't mind" was his reply. We had a little chat, he told me he had been affected by a stroke and had had a fall recently when crossing the road. He was a sweet man. We got to the bus stop just as his bus arrived and so I was able to help him on to the bus. Job done, but time was ticking on!
ReplyDeleteI arrived at the Xray waiting room around 4pm and only had to wait 5 or 10 minutes, a quick in and out! Marvellous! Next stop, blood test waiting room which is often very busy. I took a ticket, number 50 and sat down. Number 35 was showing and a room full of people waiting. Another lady came in and took a ticket after me. There was a young mum waiting with 2 small children, she had obviously been waiting some time and I noticed it said 1hour 30 minutes waiting time on the board! The young mum said that the nurse had come out announced that anyone waiting after 4.40 wouldn't get seen as they were going to close for the evening, she advised the lady "not to bother" clearly a bit grumpy at having to wait so long, so the lady after me in the queue decided not to bother and come back another time. It was now about 4.25pm, I'd got this far I thought I might as well wait and see if I got called, but I doubted that I would. About 4.30 the machine clicked round about 4 spaces and then my number came up just before 4.40pm I got in had the blood test and off home again pleased and thankful that I had fitted it all in.
On reflection, had I not stopped to help the gentlemen to the bus stop I would probably have been in the waiting room when the nurse came out and announced the delay and so I probably wouldn't have waited but gone back again another time. Had I not got stuck in the car park queue and not had to park around the corner I probably would have missed the elderly man coming out of the hospital!
On Monday morning, just as an under my breath prayer I remember praying, "Lord God, please use me today" I believe he used me to help that man and in return I received a double blessing!