The events of yesterday had been planned for at least two
weeks. I was to attend multiple meetings, boys in tote, run some errands, and
meet mom. Some plans changed, others stayed the same. But something unexpected
happened yesterday that shook the very ground I walk on. It pierced my heart
and stung to the depths of my soul.
The boys and I drove to Childress to meet mom, Aunt Rhonda,
and Mimi for lunch at Dairy Queen. I knew our visit would be short, but we are
always glad to hug their necks. We left Childress and rushed to Vernon for our meeting.
By the time we got there, I was already two minutes late and praying I had all
the necessary paperwork. The three of us rushed inside, the boys took a seat by
the toy section of the front room, and I stood waiting to be called back. A few
minutes passed, then I was greeted by a tiny, beautiful Hispanic woman we’ll
call Jamie. Jamie was all smiles and even took time to talk to the boys as they
sat playing. She and I went to her office, she sat behind her computer entering
data, and we continued to talk.
Jamie wondered why my name was the only adult on our
paperwork, and I quickly explained that Ben and I were at the beginning of a
divorce. The smile that had been so revealing of a woman content with her day,
suddenly turned into the look of hurt and desperation. She began to share
events from her own life, and I soon found myself longing to comfort her with
any words God would allow me to muster up. All I could tell her was that God
has been so faithful to provide for us, and that He alone was comforting us.
She spoke of her children, and I assured her that God is capable of protecting
their hearts, as well. As I spoke, she handed me a verse someone in her family
had given to her to hold on to. Jamie explained to me that she did not have a
relationship with God, and neither did her children. Her family had been
encouraging her to visit local churches, and she admitted that she needed to.
As Jamie talked I
noticed some scratches on her arm. I tried to keep from staring at them, and
hoped they were merely from a pet cat or something. A few minutes later I was
able to look away from the scratches, but in explaining her desperation with
life, she suddenly showed me her arm. They were not scratches. They were freshly
scabbed cuts to her wrist. This precious woman had become so hurt and felt so
defeated that cutting herself was all she felt she could do. Satan had
convinced her that she was nothing more than a failure, and that her family
would be better off without her. But God…He said no! As she showed me her arm,
I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit enter that office. I looked her in the eye,
reached to grab her arm, and told her how much God loved her. I explained that
He did not want this (the cutting) for her life. The next thing I knew we both
jumped up from our seats, I hugged her, and prayed with her as she stood
shaking and crying. I begged God to consume her with peace, for her to come to
know Jesus. After a few minutes of praying, we returned to our seats and
finished our meeting.
I encouraged Jamie to call or text me any time of the day or
night. She explained that she was so thankful God brought us there that day,
and I agreed. What a blessing it was to meet her! Jamie stated that she rarely
meets people like me. Haha. Like me? It was God! God came into that office, God
touched that woman’s heart, and God showed her what it means to be loved by
Him! I’m ecstatic to find out what He does in her life, and in the lives of her
children!
Through this experience God showed me once again, that
nothing is coincidence with Him! Not only that, but He uses our every day
situations as opportunities to show Christ to people! To show them what it
means to be loved, held, cared for! This is our mission field. Our every day
lives are not happenstance…they are God ordained and calculated and guided and
provided for! I’m reminded of the verse in Job 5:9. Which I just happen to have
posted at my computer. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles
that cannot be counted.” I used to read this verse and think of things such as rainbows,
the birth of children, shooting stars, the ocean, etc. Now I can read it and
understand that while those things are great wonders and miracles, so are our
every day encounters with other people. I pray we take each breath knowing that
God may use it to encourage someone, or help them understand their worth. I
pray that we will love people with every fiber of our being, and do it until
Jesus returns or calls us home! In case you are wondering….God loves you, too!
He doesn’t want stress, fear, and hurting to consume your life. He loves you,
and you need Him! I’m here if YOU need to talk or pray! I love you my brothers
and sisters; I cannot put into words just how much!
In Jesus Christ Always,
Summer
