It was around 4:00 pm New Years eve and the folks had stopped into the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch on New Years. As Mom was heading into the express check out aisle she accidentally cut off a disheveled man of undetermined age getting into the same line. Apologizing, Mom told him" Please excuse her, " and stepped back so he could get ahead of her and Dad.
The man said, "Thank-you and wished them a Happy New Years". This was all my Mom needed as she's the "chatty sort". " Wishing him a Happy New Years she said she hoped 2019 would be a better year than 2018 had been".
This comment of Mom's was all the prompting this disheveled man needed to unleash a heartbreaking tale of his mother dying this year, his family disowning him and how he no longer had any "true friends" now that his mother was dead.
After a few seconds of silence as Mom let this sink in, she told the man, "I don't need to know your name, as my Heavenly Father knows you. I will pray for you". At this he replied, "My name is James". James paid for his groceries, he'd mentioned earlier, "he was going home preparing a few snacks and watching TV until the New Year came in".
As James was walking away, Mom felt the tiniest nudge to go after him and ask if he'd like her to pray with him there . Maybe had she done that James would have invited Christ into his heart then he would know in his heart of hearts that he was no longer truly alone.
Matthew 28:20
20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Psalm 27:10
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
When we are lost in our own grief it's very difficult to see past our pain, and to be completely honest we never really get over the loss of a loved one; it changes us. Now after many years of Mom's parents being dead Mom can see the truth behind the quote,
"If God can take away something you never imagined losing, He can replace it with something you never imagined having."
Mom will never know what would have happened in James life, had she obeyed that tiny nudge. She does know what will happen the next time she feels that tiny prompting to ask someone if they'd like her to pray with them.
Lets all remember Paul Coelho's quote, "The world is changed by your example, not your opinion."
The apostle Paul pretty much said the same thing in Ephesians 5:1
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Our prayer this year is to be a different sort of person, more sensitive to hearing our Heavenly Fathers voice and more sensitive to those around us. We truly pray that with our flickering flame a fire will begin and the world becomes ablaze with the love of Christ and changed by His children following His example.
Happy New Years,
Molly and my Mom
The man said, "Thank-you and wished them a Happy New Years". This was all my Mom needed as she's the "chatty sort". " Wishing him a Happy New Years she said she hoped 2019 would be a better year than 2018 had been".
This comment of Mom's was all the prompting this disheveled man needed to unleash a heartbreaking tale of his mother dying this year, his family disowning him and how he no longer had any "true friends" now that his mother was dead.
After a few seconds of silence as Mom let this sink in, she told the man, "I don't need to know your name, as my Heavenly Father knows you. I will pray for you". At this he replied, "My name is James". James paid for his groceries, he'd mentioned earlier, "he was going home preparing a few snacks and watching TV until the New Year came in".
As James was walking away, Mom felt the tiniest nudge to go after him and ask if he'd like her to pray with him there . Maybe had she done that James would have invited Christ into his heart then he would know in his heart of hearts that he was no longer truly alone.
Matthew 28:20
20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Psalm 27:10
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
When we are lost in our own grief it's very difficult to see past our pain, and to be completely honest we never really get over the loss of a loved one; it changes us. Now after many years of Mom's parents being dead Mom can see the truth behind the quote,
"If God can take away something you never imagined losing, He can replace it with something you never imagined having."
Mom will never know what would have happened in James life, had she obeyed that tiny nudge. She does know what will happen the next time she feels that tiny prompting to ask someone if they'd like her to pray with them.
Lets all remember Paul Coelho's quote, "The world is changed by your example, not your opinion."
The apostle Paul pretty much said the same thing in Ephesians 5:1
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Our prayer this year is to be a different sort of person, more sensitive to hearing our Heavenly Fathers voice and more sensitive to those around us. We truly pray that with our flickering flame a fire will begin and the world becomes ablaze with the love of Christ and changed by His children following His example.
Happy New Years,
Molly and my Mom
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