Ashamed, but Blessed
After a long day of sitting and taking notes in a meeting, I smiled at the front desk security woman and asked about her day. She stared at me sadly and noted, "My mom died last night." I stopped in my tracks and stared back at the woman, who was fairly new to our office. "What? Oh, I'm so sorry," I replied changing my usual path down the hallway and out to the parking lot.
I stopped in front of her desk and she told me about her mother who had dementia and the problems that had already started with family members looking for money in the death of her mother. We hugged and I told her I would pray for her.
Tonight as I flipped the light switch off in my office, I'm ashamed to say I considered using the other elevator so that I wouldn't run into Miss V. I didn't know what else to say, or how I could help her. But I came to my senses and went down the elevator to her desk. She seemed relieved to see me, I felt guilty about my previous thoughts. She received a call from her brother last night that he is in his final stages of kidney failure and things for her mother's funeral are not being taken care of.
She wanted to get her hair fixed before heading home as she has not seen her family in a longtime and has since become a Christian. She said, "They don't know me anymore." We held hands and prayed a prayer of strength and humility in seeing her family again and being someone they would not recognize anymore. She told me how she was disappointed that her family wasn't helping her with airfare home, that some of them seemed like fake Christians.
I told her that it might be good that she sees that with God she doesn't need to rely on family, as they can fail her, but God never will. This problem will create an opportunity for God to show her that He is faithful to provide. She said she liked that thought and was going to "claim it" for herself. We hugged and I went to my car to drive home. Yes, I left embarrassed by my initial thoughts of "not wanting to get involved" with a stranger, but blessed to know that no matter how thoughtless and selfish my thoughts, God can use me and work through me regardless!
I stopped in front of her desk and she told me about her mother who had dementia and the problems that had already started with family members looking for money in the death of her mother. We hugged and I told her I would pray for her.
Tonight as I flipped the light switch off in my office, I'm ashamed to say I considered using the other elevator so that I wouldn't run into Miss V. I didn't know what else to say, or how I could help her. But I came to my senses and went down the elevator to her desk. She seemed relieved to see me, I felt guilty about my previous thoughts. She received a call from her brother last night that he is in his final stages of kidney failure and things for her mother's funeral are not being taken care of.
She wanted to get her hair fixed before heading home as she has not seen her family in a longtime and has since become a Christian. She said, "They don't know me anymore." We held hands and prayed a prayer of strength and humility in seeing her family again and being someone they would not recognize anymore. She told me how she was disappointed that her family wasn't helping her with airfare home, that some of them seemed like fake Christians.
I told her that it might be good that she sees that with God she doesn't need to rely on family, as they can fail her, but God never will. This problem will create an opportunity for God to show her that He is faithful to provide. She said she liked that thought and was going to "claim it" for herself. We hugged and I went to my car to drive home. Yes, I left embarrassed by my initial thoughts of "not wanting to get involved" with a stranger, but blessed to know that no matter how thoughtless and selfish my thoughts, God can use me and work through me regardless!
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Wow! How amazing to hear about God using you out in the world. That you prayed with her too was probably the exact thing she needed at the moment! God bless you Kate!!!
ReplyDeleteThats awesome. The Lord will use us if we're willing. You were at the right place, at the right time, and listened. You heard the voice of God:) I will pray for her as well.
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