Around eleven years ago, during the days when I finally started letting God deal with me about some lifelong issues, I told God, "I'd love to jump into this 'random acts of kindness' thing.
So, many weeks later, there I was in the check-out lane right behind a Goth-like teenager whose friends were waiting for him outside the glass doors. He searched for the extra change for his tiny pack of cookies and chocolate milk as the checker lady stood there with an impatient face. Well, bam! I realized I should give him the change he needed, but oh my. I didn't know what to say. I was frightened I'd say the wrong thing, afraid I'd ask the wrong way or stumble over my words, or stutter, lisp. Yada, yada.
Pathetic, I know. So I did nothing and the poor kid had to leave the chocolate milk behind. I felt horrible. For days.
I walked out of the store very upset with myself and even--yes--with God. A little, anyway. I mean, why hadn't He given me this great electric surge of courage? I'd felt so much bolder in recent months, what had gone wrong back in the check-out lane? Why hadn't I automatically known what to do, especially since weeks ago I'd asked for this opportunity?
I mean, what had I expected to happen---the checker lady and the kid to both turn to me, simultaneously in slow-motion, and ask, "Do you have some spare change?" Was I waiting for angels to appear, lift my arm, and miraculously find my hand full of change and heading toward the boy as if by magic? Had I expected God to literally speak through me with the correct words?
Well, yeah.
Lessons learned. Gah. I asked God for another chance to come to the rescue in the check-out lane, but there's never been that exact chance again. Although, He's had me do other little things for folks while waiting to pay for my groceries--offers of prayer, a listening ear, the giving of sympathy and understanding and, when asked for it, advice.
But not the spare change thing. Not yet.
Anyway, it's scary how much responsibility God gives me. Us. How sometimes we might miss a once in a lifetime chance just because we weren't listening to Him or obeying. Because we lagged behind Him or were angel-waiting.
It's that still, small voice and the obedience to it. It's that daily, step-by-step walk which tends to be oh so quiet, but oh so vital which will always matter the most.
And it's that kind of responsibility which, some days, blows me away.
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7 comments:
Thank you for this post, Debra.
I needed it.
You might wish to give someone spare change, but, what you just gave me right here is worth more than millions to me.
I tend, like you, to think there should be a neon arrow to point where I should go...
I am learning to trust him to watch where I am. I am learning to see he wants my input and love - to see where I want it to go.
He lets us be like him, I read in a song, choosers, not clones.
When I have a question I ask him and he answers, most of the time, in a voice that sometimes seems to sound amazingly like mine.
I have to TRUST he leads me, he lives and I carry Him where He wants to go... where I love to be, what I love to do, what I would spend my love to do for others - if I am true to myself, as he built me to be, I am where he needs me to be..
I trust he will correct me, too, if I head down a wrong road.
Out of gas, flat tire, radiator blew? Just love shining there for me to see if I accept that, too.
Yup! Thanks for the great post!
Yes, the responsibility can be frightening, but it's comforting to me to realize that I cannot foil God's plan. Yes, I may miss personal opportunities, but God can make my mistakes work for good just as well as he can use me when I'm doing it right. I'm so glad He's in charge and has it all figured out. Whew, what a load off that is. :-)
Thanks so much for a very enlightening post. Sometimes I tend to think I'm the only one who has these issues. I need frequent reminders.
I am a bit shy about offering help because of one bad experience many years ago. I was simply offering to help an elderly lady after she tripped on the curb and fell on her face on to the sidewalk. When I asked if I could help her, she shouted at me, "NO!" and semed angry that I asked.
Over the years I've come to realize that she was obviously humiliated that she had fallen and wasn't really angry at me.
It always makes me feel so wonderful when I can help someone, I need to be looking for opportunities.
I guess it was God's plan that he not get the chocolate milk.
It is funny to me that you fear what you should say in that situation. I guess I have no problems with that even though I am very reclusive at times and introverted. I don't think anyone would do anything to me, so I don't fear. What I do fear is biffing up what I wish to say when I speak my mind to someone. I do that a lot!!! LOL!!
There will be more times ahead, God is always faithful with that!! :)
Well, everyone of us fail. Likely you will not in such a situation again. We are here to learn too.
I do understand about the issues with your hubby. Mine comes home so spent. He wishes he could retire. If things had gone in our lives earlier as they should have, he would be retired now. I know it is so hard for him to continue to go to work. But I am not able to either physically or education wise...so we must trudge on, do our best and hope that someway it will be ok. None of us can totally make it without the help of our FATHER above anyway.
I, also am shy when it comes to speaking to strangers. I have had some opportunities in the past that I have taken advantage of, and I feel blessed when I do.
I will pray for the Lord's guidance with your husband's situation. I am sure He will lead you as you go along.
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