Walking through our little
local mall last Wednesday something happened that reminded me about the people
all around me. It was a chilly evening so my sister, mom, and I had our jackets
on as we walked through JCPenny. My sister, Stephanie, happened to be wearing a
Grace College jacket (where she attends
school). An older guy, who looked like he might be a janitor there in the store
saw her jacket and yelled out to her, “Does that coat say Grace College?” and
she kindly replied to let him know that he had read it correctly. He went on to
ask where it was located and she explained it was in Winona
Lake near Warsaw, Indiana.
As she described the school he knew what school it was and started to tell us
about his son who attended Bethel College in Mishawaka
(about 30 minutes from our house) I am very familiar with the school because my
brother attended the same Christian school for three years. He continued to
tell me that his son is a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. We asked him which
church he was at and realized that it was less than a mile down the road from
our church.
He continued to tell how he had moved around to several states and how God
brought him and his wife back in the area around all his children and
grandchildren.
As he inquired about my life, I had the opportunity to tell him about the World
Race mission trip I was going on for 11 months. After a few more details about
the trip, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a $10 bill and handed it to
me. I didn’t know what to say but thanks! He said, “it’s not my money,
it’s God’s and He can use it more than I can.” My eyes lit up and I wanted
to give this man a hug. As we walked away I thanked him once again, and he
replied, “Don’t thank me, thank God!”
Between the three of us, and him talking about his son, we caught his first and
last name. We’ll call him Uncle Walt. That night I prayed for him and thanked
God for bringing him into my life for just a few minutes. God used Uncle Walt
to remind me of all the people around me everyday. How many opportunities do I
miss everyday? I never know if someone behind me in the Wal-mart line doesn’t
know Christ or if there is a fellow brother or sister in Christ who could use a
word of encouragement. Knowing how much he encouraged me helped me realize I
need to be taking every moment I can to not only tell but show Christ’s love to
those around me. Afterall, that’s what God calls us to and all that really matters
in this life is Christ!
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us,
too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the
mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it
clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the
most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace,
seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
~Colossians 4:2-6
