Aug
30
2012
The Littlest Thing
Posted in Daily Living 2 Comments
My son went back to college last weekend.
My youngest daughter and I took him to lunch.
It was the same day I stepped in the Silly String…but that was another story.
After we ordered, and our food came, all the waitresses came out in a line.
They were singing in cadence and clapping along.
They stopped at the booth behind us…where two women were having lunch together.
It was the birthday of the woman directly behind me.
The head waitress was so sweet to the older woman and placed her desert before her.
As if on cue, the woman began to tell the waitress how hard her life has been lately.
I felt as if I was intruding…but there was no where for me to go.
I was a captive audience!
My heart broke for this woman’s plight.
So much happened in such a short period of time.
The waitress handled her perfectly.
She listened…she acknowledged the woman’s pain.
She reminded her of the special day she was celebrating.
Someone else might have rolled their eyes and hurried off in disgust.
Not this waitress!
She extended her arms and exuded grace!
I was so moved.
Moments happen each day.
Many times we miss them.
Through no fault of our own, we fail to see the importance…at the time.
Later, we may realize the significance of what we missed.
We can’t get the moment back again…and we regret what we should have done.
Regret can be paralyzing…or it can spur us on to be more purposeful the next time.
I knew that my tears were close.
I spoke to my son and daughter.
Never underestimate the little things we do for someone.
They matter!
The waitress did not fix the woman’s problems, or her health, or her recent loss.
The waitress listened and respected this precious person in front of her.
Respected her enough to care.
Respected her enough to give her time.
Time…that precious commodity we never think we have enough of.
Time…the same twenty four hours we all get each day.
The waitress had compassion on this total stranger.
The woman left the restaurant with her burdens a little lighter.
Even for a moment, they were shared.
An expert in the law asked Jesus a question...”Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus responded with a parable.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So, too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? (Luke 10:30-36)
The expert of the law responded to Jesus’ question.
“The one who had mercy on him.” (Luke 10:37)
Jesus told him to go and do likewise.
That is what the waitress did.
She had mercy on a total stranger.
With other tables to wait on, she put that aside for a few minutes, and loved this woman.
She showed her the dignity she deserved.
I pray that I would do the same.
I pray that my heart would overflow with compassion.
I pray that my hands and feet…voice and countenance…would be His.
I pray that I do not miss an opportunity to be a neighbor.
I wanted to say something to the waitress…but I never got the chance.
It was just as well.
Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the street, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4)
I had the privilege of witnessing grace…flowing from one to another.
God the Father sees.
God the Father knows.
The littlest, most insignificant thing is magnificent in His eyes.
I read once…Go out and do something small for God!
I have never forgotten that.
What small thing can you do for Him today?
“Go out and do something small for God!”
That’s going in my prayer journal! Thanks, Gina!
Janna,
Can you imagine the ripple effect…if we ALL did something small for HIM today?
Gina