Fruit Inspection

So how was everybody’s week? Mine was crazy! Obviously, as I didn’t blog much last week. I had a lot going with school, a photo shoot, and ending the week with a 2 day crop! Late last night brought Jeremy home…FINALLY! It was a long 3 weeks without him and I’m glad to have him home for a few days before his next series begins.

Now. It’s weeks like this past one where it gets hard to hear the Holy Spirit. I get caught up in what I’ve got going on instead of what God’s got going on. One of my favorite quotes comes from a Mercy Me song. The lyrics ask, “How can I further your kingdom when I’m so wrapped up in mine?”

So true for me last week. Even so, I had prepared something to write for today. Something that’s been stirring in my heart since December. But it will have to wait. God had something else in mind.

To get the full effect of this story I have to take you back to when I was newly married. Jeremy didn’t do the “church thing” so I was visiting churches on my own on Sunday mornings. One particular Easter I was invited by someone I knew to her church. She sang in the choir so I had to sit alone, but she was sure I’d enjoy the music.

I remember at one point being very overcome with emotion. I didn’t completely fall apart or anything, but I had tears in my eyes and I probably sniffled a few times. A woman I had never met before was sitting next to me. She leaned over, grabbed my hand, and said, “Can I pray for you?”

At the time I was embarrassed and shook my head. But later I thought “you know…that is what this Christian life is all about.”

Fast forward to this morning.

I almost always sit with my friend and her husband during our worship service. When I came in today, they had another couple with them, so I sat in the row in front of them. Another friend of mine sat to my left but to my right was an empty chair, and then an older woman I didn’t know.

Our service begins each week with praise and worship, however today, we began in prayer. Lots and lots of prayer, preparing our hearts for the message.

I noticed the sniffling.

A song was sung then we prayed some more. And there it was again. Sniffling.

Was the older woman crying or did she have a cold? Thoughts went all through my mind because it is just not my nature to get in someone else’s business and find out what’s wrong. I mean, what if they don’t want me to ask? What if they want to be left alone? What if it’s personal???

Then I remembered the woman from my past and I asked myself one other question: what am I here for if not to minister, in some way, to this poor woman who is obviously upset?

When we stood to sing the next song I stepped over to her, put my arm around her shoulder and asked, “Are you okay?”

I was taken aback at how quickly she embraced me and started sobbing. She was hanging on so tightly with her body shaking that there was no way I was letting her go.

I’m not sure how long we stayed like that. With tears in both our eyes we eventually parted, but still stood side by side holding hands. I could almost feel her pain.

When we sat down I asked for her name (which is Cindy by the way, if you want to lift her up). I never asked why she was upset or what was making her feel so badly. I don’t think it mattered.

As I sat through the rest of the service I realized I had been used by God. I mean, I was in a part of the church I never sit in. I’ve never even seen that woman before. She needed that hug more than I could have ever known. But God knew her need. And He used me. That is so completely humbling to me.
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Okay, it’s your turn. How is God moving in your life right now? Do tell…