I have a friend who works with special needs adults.  She is very sweet.  Fran has many personal challenges of her own, but is always able to share some kindness no matter how tired she is.  She posted the following story the other day and I asked if I could share it:

Good Morning family and friends! One day last week I was having a very bumpy day and in a lot of pain – it took everything I had to put one foot in front of another and it was very hard to put a smile on my face.  I had gotten into the elevator with a women that had a disability and I force that smile on my face and made that choice to put my issue and my pain on that back burner, I had that feeling in my stomach that she needed some positive reinforcement, so I told her what a big inspiration she was and how pretty she is.  She had such a big smile on her face, I am so thankful I took that minute to put my issue on the back burner to make someone feel good. We reached her floor as she was getting off the elevator with that smile she said thanks Fran you made my day and now I am going to go and take a nap. Well she went and took her nap and never woke up … God took her back home. It has been really heavy on my heart, God brought it to my attention that I was the last face she saw and heard my last words. So what this taught me is it only takes a minute to make someone feel good because you never know what is going to happen the next minute to that person, RIP my friend.

Her story gave me goose bumps.  Bless you, Fran, for putting aside your own needs and reaching out to bring happiness to someone else.  God’s love encouraged you to do that.  And the last image that woman had before leaving this world was that she was special, and pretty, and that she had a friend.

How many times do we not hear God’s call?  Are we too busy?  Too involved in meaningless things?  Too busy looking inward at our own pitiful needs?  Are we ignorant when God places us in a situation where He asks us to serve Him in some simple way?  Maybe we have been asked to show some patience to the frazzled store clerk?  Or to take some time to listen to an old person’s story.  Or to tell someone they did a good job today.  God wants us to build people up.  God wants us to be kind.

Look at life with God’s eyes and stop staring at yourself.

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Thank you Fran.

Just Laurel