Oh [shoot] I've become my mother.Well I found it to be true once again the last few days.
As I was figuring out what in the world my plans were for traveling to North Carolina today, trying not to fall up the stairs in front of everyone for a third time, turning in papers, going to classes in which I didn't do my homework for, packing (my most dreaded chore), traveling to and filming a glass blower artists work process, and keeping my smiley, happy I've got this under control persona up, I was forced to attend late lunch today.
I sat with my iPad in hand while I ate some carrots and cucumbers and this amazing peach minding my own business. Actually, I think I might have been the only one in Aladdin (our cafeterias proper name). One of the workers came up to me and asked me about my iPad and what it did and how big it was and if he could watch "the game" on it and on and on and on we chatted. Every time he walked by he would make a different comment. I was trying to be nice, yet I had so much to do. And my introverted personality forces me to need just a tad bit of recoup time, in which I wasn't receiving. But after about the fifth time he stopped by, I thought about the cool witness I could be to this guy.
The only thing I really even said was that I use it to help in my bible study. But ya know, I can't help but think maybe my kindness to him was just what he needed. Maybe he needed to see that someone was there to listen. Maybe that's all he needed to know.
Then there's this elderly man in the cafeteria. He is the sweetest little old man. If you know me very well, you will know I lost my Pawpaw a little over a year ago. He was my rock. He was the rock of our family. He was an amazing witness (with over 700 people at his wake) and stood for Christ no matter what the cost. He was also a jokester. He would always point to something on the floor. Then right when you looked down, he'd catch your nose with his finger and say, "Gotcha!". He was a keeper.
Well this little 'ol man in Aladdin reminds me of Pawpaw. He never ceases to ask if I've been runnin' (he saw me in my runnin' gear one day and I guess he's never forgotten). I have now become accustomed to talking to him. However, I noticed at the beginning of the year that he was missing from the scene. But then one day out of the blue, he came up to me and told me all about getting his job back. He'd been in and out of the hospital with his back. But the doctors told him to walk. So he figured this job would be good for him.
I could tell he really wanted the job. However, I don't think it was just the walking he needed. He needed faces, smiley faces. He wanted to be able to have a conversation with someone besides the doctor. Maybe he has a family... But he's never mentioned them. How convicting is it that I could be the bright spot in his day. I could be the one person who he comes to work for. I could shine a little Jesus in his life and show him that there is a big, big God waiting for him.
Tonight, I was putting some laundry in the machine when the janitor lady came a hauling up the stairs. She asked me how I managed to do that multiple times a day and "why in the world I would ever apply to live on this floor?". I told her it was a way for me to live in peace and quiet and have a big enough space to actually do something. She didn't agree, but smiled. I had to help her put a shower curtain in the room of this other girl so that she could say she didn't steal anything. Then we discovered we had the same name. She told me all about her four brothers and one sister. I know all of their names now. We talked about my class schedule and what I want to do when I leave. She smiled through her words of advice; I could tell she thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. I did, too. When we said our goodbyes, she said, "Good luck with your ministry and all. I think that's gonna be awesome."
Her kind words meant more than she would or will ever know.
Maybe Pawpaw was right. Maybe I DO have a calling on my life, a big one. I want to shine Jesus into the lives of these people. If it takes the only five minutes I have from one class to another, I am determined that it is worth it.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)"Lord, help me to be the witness you would have me to be. Help me to pursue your strength and wisdom so that your fragrant love may flow through me. You are my all. Thank you for dyin' on that old rugged cross. Amen."
Shining bright,
Elizabeth
Inspiring!!.
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