One evening one of my co-leaders, Luis, and I were eating dinner at a somewhat local restaurant amongst the tourist hustle and bustle of Siem Reap.
The restaurant was open to the outside, with no doors, as most places are in that area.
Sweaty from the bike ride we sat right on the edge under a fan, half inside, half outside.
As we talked and ate and laughed and gave feedback, a sweet little old man came up and sat down right beside us.
As our conversation paused we acknowledged him, asked him where he was from and why he was in Cambodia. After the short encounter we returned to our own conversation.
As we finished our food a small downcast girl approached us.
We smiled, looked her in the eyes, motioned her over, and asked her name.
Lina.
Unable to help the others that came before her because of the lack of change, she was in luck because we had just paid.
We gave her some change but as we got up to leave she continued to stand there.
Luis then asked if she wanted food.
She shook her head yes and Luis escorted her over to the menu.
As they flipped through the laminated pages I decided to sit down with the little old man beside us.
Loland.
As I sat with Loland, Luis sat down with Lina and we both separately enjoyed dinner with our new found friends.
I sat listening to Loland’s adventure stories from the years past while Luis and Lina shared smiles and folded her newly acquired money into origami.
What happened next had me in complete shock.
Another man in need approached the restaurant holding his hat out to receive money.
Lina stopped folding, stood up and placed one of her origami moneys in his hat, smiled and went back to folding.
…
This little girl who had freely received close to nothing, freely gave what she had.
As they finished their meals Loland left us with a word of encouragement.
He said, “You have given me your most valuable thing. Your time. That’s all people need and not many are willing to give it. Here I am just talking non stop and you just sat and listened. Don’t ever change.”
Lina’s actions and Loland’s words will stay with me forever.
We get so wrapped up in our own agendas and to-do lists that we forget to give people our time and money.
All Lina needed was quality time and some food.
All Loland needed was quality time and a listening ear.
Are we willing to give our time and money like Lina, who only had a little but she gave what she had?
Is there a co-worker that just needs a listening ear?
Is there someone in need you can share a meal with?
Is there a person/situation the Lord has placed in front of you but you’ve said, “I don’t have the money” or “I don’t have the time“?
Keep your eyes and schedules open for the Holy Spirit to interrupt your day so that His children can know they are seen, loved and cared for.
