It Only Takes A Moment

Some people can go into a grocery store and come out fairly quickly.
I am not one of those people.
I would like to blame it on the fact that I take the time to buy organic things.
I would like to say I am just a careful shopper.

That is partially true, but there is more to it than that.
I take a long time because I always run into people I know.
I take a long time because I find people fascinating and enjoy listening to them.
I always leave myself a block of time so I am not rushed at the grocery store.

I just had one of those shopping trips.
It began when I ran into a dear friend from church.
She knew that I had burned myself over a simmering soup pot.
She asked how the burn was healing.

Twenty minutes later we were still standing there talking together.
We moved our carts out of the way so other people could get by.
As I was talking to her, another friend came by that I had not seen in a while.
Excuse me while I give someone a hug, I interrupted.

I hugged my friend that I had not seen in a while.
I miss you, was said and meant.
We all parted ways and I began my shopping.
Up and down the aisles, skipping some and turning into others.

I finished and went through the checkout line.
I watched a woman far off from the line.
She was offering to let others go in front of her if they only had a few things.
The lines were busy and it was very gracious of her.

To my surprise, no one took her up on her offer.
She looked at me with an incredulous gaze.
I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.
It only took a moment of her time to make such a gracious offer, which no one accepted.

I bagged my own groceries and paid my bill.
I said goodbye to a few cashiers I know from shopping there each week.
As I was ready to leave the store, I saw a woman who usually bags groceries.
She smiled at me and waved.

My feet hurt; I just had to sit down for a while, she said.
I’ve been on my feet since 10:00 this morning.
I looked at my watch; that was almost five hours ago.
We began to talk.

I learned about her family.
I heard about her grandchildren.
I discovered that she even has a great-grandchild.
How old are you? Do you tell your age? I asked wondering if she would.

As we were talking, another person came and sat on the bench.
She didn’t seem to want that person to hear her age.
So behind her hand she mouthed her answer only to me.
Eighty, she said with a twinkle in her eye.

NO! I said emphatically.
I want to be you when I grow up!
Nothing could be truer.
She had just told me that her oldest grandchild was thirty years old.

Doing the math, her age made sense.
Looking at her, it was unimaginable.
You are amazing, I told her.
I thought of the weeks that she helped me with my groceries and I never knew.

I would have guessed you were about fifteen years younger.
She seemed delighted.
I was not flattering her.
I never would have guessed her to be eighty years old.

It only took a moment of my time but I was the one who was blessed by our conversation.

I pushed my shopping cart towards my car.
There was a man collecting the carts from the covered area.
That area was two spaces down from my car.
He saw me coming and smiled.

He gathered the carts and lingered a bit next to my car.
It seemed like he was waiting for me to finish so he could take my shopping cart.
I saw the stickers on your car, he said pointing to the back window.
I pulled the minivan hatch down a bit so I could see what he was talking about.

I have window clings on my back window.
They are window clings with the names of two colleges and one law school.
The man was pointing to one of the colleges.
I know that place; it’s near the one I went to, he said remembering.

I didn’t quite understand.
So you went to college near there? I asked since he seemed to want to talk.
Just for a year, and he explained why he left.
I asked him what he studied and he told me restaurant management.

Well you could still finish; it’s never too late!
I am thinking about it, he said looking far off.
I can maybe grab a class here or there, he said believing it was possible.
It is always good to learn new things; you can always begin again.

Yeah, I can begin again; he was still talking as he pushed the carts back to the store.
It only took a moment to listen and encourage.
Just a moment.
Everyone has a story and sometimes one simple question allows them to tell it.

It only takes a moment.

As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding around and pressing against You.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched Me; I know the power has gone out from Me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48)

It only took a moment.
It only took a moment for the woman to reach out and touch Jesus’ cloak.
She knew that He healed people and she quietly hoped that He would heal her.
She didn’t want to make a fuss; she wanted to blend into the background.

Jesus doesn’t let anyone remain in the background or go unnoticed.
It only took a moment for the power of Jesus to heal this woman.
It only took a moment for Jesus to look at the faces in the crowd.
It only took a moment for Jesus to know the woman who reached out to Him in faith.

It only took a moment for Jesus to reassure her.
Your faith has healed you. Go in peace.
Her faith saved her from a life of uncleanness.
Her faith saved her soul as well.

It only took a moment.
A moment to reach out to Jesus in faith to be healed.
A moment to reach out to Jesus in faith to be saved.
Jesus called her, Daughter.

It only takes a moment to reach out to someone.
People are hungry to talk and have someone listen to them.
Your one moment may be just the encouragement they need to press on.
Whether it is tired feet or someone who wants to begin again, they need you.

It only takes a moment.
A sovereign moment in Jesus’ hand is all the time you need.
In Him, that moment can be life changing.
In Him, that moment can have eternal benefits.

It only takes a moment.