Divine Appointments

Each day, as we look around us, there are different opportunities to serve, to help someone or to offer encouragement.  Sometimes it’s the small acts of kindness that mean so very much:  a smile, a kind word, opening a door, baking cookies, sending a card or letter, calling your mom or a friend, letting someone go in front of you in the check out lane, taking a meal to a shut-in, calling on an elderly neighbor… The list is endless; waiting for your personal touch, using your gift.  

This world is filled with hate, violence and crime.  We could all use a little more love and kindness.  Don’t we all just want to feel loved and valued?  Don’t we want to be seen and heard; know that our life matters to someone?  I think those are  common human basic needs.  We matter to God!  He loves us!

He makes each person unique and gives special gifts to us.  Our gifts differ. Yet, they equip us for the tasks that God creates for us to do.  He wants us to use them to help and serve others.

I have three children, two daughters and a son.  There are about ten years difference between my youngest daughter and my son.  He grew up in a household with teenage girls and hormones!  

As a young boy, he would play for hours with Superhero figurines.  He wanted to be a Superhero when he grew up.   He has always had a big heart!  He dreamed of being able to create housing and schools for homeless. He wanted to serve and help the misunderstood, the disadvantaged and underserved.  Although, at the time, he was only around four, he was “wise beyond his years.”  His passion grew to serve.  

As a mother, I tried to encourage and instill the value of serving, giving back into the lives of my children.  I feel that there is so much to learn by being involved in mission projects. Helping others, like laughter, is good medicine for your heart!  

I took my son with me to a church in the inner city to serve meals to the homeless.  He welcomed and loved serving!  Yet, because of his young age, he was not allowed to interact with the people.  This discouraged him.  But his passion for the hurting did not subside.

One day, we were having dinner with my friend, Lisa.  Lisa also had a servant’s heart.  Upon entering the restaurant, she saw a homeless man seated on the curb outside.  When she ordered her meal, she also requested a “carry out” meal with the same entrees.  We finished our meals.  As we exited, she walked over to the homeless man and struck up a conversation.  She asked his name and told him that “Jesus loved him.”  As she chatted, she engaged him in a conversation.  She asked if she could pray for him.  He agreed.  Then, she handed him the meal and told him that she loved him too. The gentleman was grateful.  He was appreciative for the meal.  But it seemed he was even more thankful that someone took the time to “see him”, ask his name and have conversation.  For the first time, in a long time, I believe he felt the warmth of lovingkindness in her actions.  Don’t actions always speak louder than words?

This incident my son witnessed spoke to him deeply; imprinted on his heart.   We all walked away differently that evening.  I don’t believe in luck or coincidence.  I believe this was a divine appointment; created by God in advance for us to do.  I think these opportunities are around us every day.  Are we too busy to notice or do we turn blind eyes, deaf ears and walk away?

A few months later we went to dinner at the same restaurant.  My son spotted a homeless man on the curb and asked me if we could purchase a meal for the man.  We did and he took the meal to him; giving him a blessing of food and love.

My son is now a young man in college.   Long gone are the days of playing with super hero figurines.  But his passion for helping others is growing into a career path. Today, he is working with special needs children; encouraging, teaching, caring.  He appreciates, enjoys, and understands them.  He is their advocate, friend and super hero.  He is using his gifts.