Who Are We Taking With Us?

One afternoon in December I decided to brave the mall. I had a tempting coupon for a big anchor store, but I dreaded the crowded parking lots. Driving up and down several rows for about ten minutes, I finally saw someone leaving and got a spot at the end of a long lane on the third level. It paid off. I found several great Christmas gifts in one “convenient” location, and saved quite a bit.

By four o'clock the sun was already setting when I headed out of the mall to beat rush hour traffic. Trouble is, outside in the multi-layered parking garage, everything looked the same and I didn't remember my parking section. Did I exit on the same side I had entered? I walked up and down a few lanes toting my packages while my feet started protesting loudly, but my car wasn't where I thought I left it. How could I retrace all my steps? Oh Lord, why didn't I wear sneakers?

Just then, a security jeep trolled up and I quickly waved him over. “Could you help me find my car?” I pleaded.

“Hop in,” he said with a smile.

“I’m sorry. I thought I parked at the end of one of these lanes…”

Suddenly a little light dawned. What a great opportunity!

“Does this happen often?” I asked him.

“ALL the time!” he laughed.

As we drove around several identical lanes, I asked about his life and found out that he’s a medical student in Boston working security nights and weekends to help make ends meet for his young family. He was tired too and juggling a heavy load of his own.

After a few minutes, I spotted my car, but paused. “Michael, you graciously helped me find what I lost. Now can I help you?” I described how God seeks us and longs to bring us to himself. He is always there to help us bear the burdens of life and find our way. "This is what Christmas is all about," I smiled. "Merry Christmas."  

Opportunities can sneak up at a moment’s notice and smack you between the eyes. I am always amazed at how quickly these doors can fly open. On an elevator, at the register, or even ordering coffee at a drive-up window!

Like yesterday, when my friend Diane invited me to share her gift certificates at a nail salon. There we were with our feet in the hot tubs and our hands on the table chatting and giggling like school girls with a couple beautiful Asian girls. Taliana and eighteen-year-old Ling, a freshman in college, worked on my hands and seemed to enjoy my jokes. Then somewhere along the line I mentioned that I’m a grandmother and had lost my husband.

“You’re so upbeat,” she said sweetly, “but you’ve been through so much.”

I asked about her life and she said “It’s a very hard time right now.”

“At home?”

“Yeah, a lot of conflict with my parents… “

“Does it fall on you to try to keep the peace?”

“Yes! And I have a thirteen-year-old brother. I try to keep things good for him.”

I told her that my own teen years were difficult. After five years of struggling I did something at the age of eighteen that changed me forever. I asked Jesus to come into my life. She listened intently as I pointed to the beads on my Psalm 23 gem bracelet and presented Christ, our loving and caring Shepherd. "He is the One who knows and sees and wants to enter into our lives and help us with every detail. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love."

I could see her eyes tearing up when she said sweetly, “That’s very moving.”

We seemed to compress a lot of life into a few quick minutes of heart to heart sharing. When I mentioned a new cafe in Worcester I was going to, her eyes lit up. Turns out, that's right in her neighborhood, a rough section of the city 40 miles away from where we met! So she quickly took out a pen and wrote down the address. Who knew? Truly, I think God put us together for a treat that day.  

I hope I never get too busy about finding a deal or a parking spot that I forget the most valuable gift I already have. It’s not about painting nails or running Christmas errands. It’s ABOUT the people we meet each and every day. Are we going to share the BEST GIFT of all? A word of encouragement, a reminder that God is present and he loves us... that's what it's all about.  

Lord, help me to stay awake. Help me to remember it’s not about where I'm going, but who I'm taking with me on my way back to you.