“I had it all figured out”
I had it all figured out; the title of my 1st blog was going to be “Let’s Make A Deal.” I’ve been asking the Holy Spirit to fill me with knowledge, so I wrote out every verse from the first week’s lesson on a legal pad. I prayed about it, and decided I was going to share the many times I made a deal with God. But, then, God called me to use what I’d learned from Hannah’s example, and put it into action.
On that day, I was struck with, what I would interpret as God driven, a sweet opportunity for a divine purpose, a way that God could use me to glorify Him! Isn’t that what He saw in Hannah? It’s the everyday Hannah in all of us, how to use our faith in God for His Glory.
I was in the grocery line when a woman that was shaking uncontrollably (I’m assuming Parkinson’s disease) was in front of me. She spoke very little; her words were jumbled. I was struck by her tenacity to shop alone, drive herself and be independent. The checker asked her if she needed help with her groceries to the car and she reluctantly agreed.
After what seemed like an eternity, with no one in sight, I asked her if I could take her groceries to the car. I looked at my Fudgesicles and thought, just melt. I asked her if there was someone at home to help her and she said no. I offered to go to her house, with a smile she humbly declined.
As we spoke, she showed me the scar on her shoulder from a recent shoulder replacement, a result from fainting, in her weakened and frail body. As random as this sounds, earlier that day I had met friends for lunch. My pants were so tight, I lost feeling from the waist down as we sat and visited. Discretely, in desperation, I slipped the butter knife into my purse and headed to the lady’s room. In the stall I began sawing the waistband, wishing I had a steak knife. Finally, my pants loose enough now to pull up, out I went!
I’m a picture of imperfection! The lady getting groceries is no different than me. Her struggles are visible and today mine were hidden behind a long top. We all have our flaws.
The cashier gushed at my willingness to help, and said that it made her day. It made mine...if in some way the sweet lady felt loved on by me then Glory to God. He is behind every kind and loving gesture for others. I just pray I have a chance to “pay it forward” every day I’m here.
By the way, I threw my pants away, I couldn’t get them in the trash quick enough. Now, go out and show your faith like Hannah by making someone’s day, flaws and all.
Laura Crudup