The other day I was in a Christian Bookstore looking for a few small, inexpensive prizes that could be put in a raffle drawing at the Fundraising Dinner my Bible Fellowship Class at Calvary was putting on for me. There was a young woman working there, named Lauren, who was helping us out tremendously. We explained what the raffle drawing was for, and how all the proceeds were going towards an 11 month missions trip around the world. Not realizing it was me going on the journey, she continued to say how awesome it was that we were helping put on this incredible event for a friend who is taking a trip like that. To clear up the confusion, I tell her that I’m the one going on the trip, I’m the friend. I’m the one these awesome friends of mine are putting on an event for.
Surprised, she smiles at me, and says “Wait right there! Don’t move!”
As I’m waiting, she disappears into the back room and comes back a few minutes later. She walks up to me, embraces me with a huge warm hug, and simply places a $20 bill in my hand. She walks back around the corner and proceeds to check us out.
Friends, this encounter brought so much joy, and encouragement into my life. I cannot express to you how much this simple donation meant to me. This woman had never met me before, she simply listened to a story, felt the gentle whisper of God to give, and she listened obediently. It wasn’t much, but it was more than enough.
Blessings come in many forms, but more often than not, God uses people for the greatest blessings in our lives. This is just one example, but throughout this journey I have certainly felt God’s many abundant blessings in my life through the form of other believers.
The best use of life is to love… in fact, life without love is worthless. Paul writes “No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” The quality of our relationships and the way we love God and others is the most important thing in life. And the best time to love is NOW. Don’t put it off. The Bible says, “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone.” “Use every chance you have for doing good.” “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”
This brief encounter with a woman in a Christian Bookstore taught me so much about loving others… NOW. What a blessing she was in my life. I don’t know if I will ever see her again, but my o my… the impact she had on me was tremendous.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE!”
Jasmine
