Today's Devotional Thought
September 19, 2011 by Wendy Foreman
Grocery Store
I went to the store on Friday for a quick trip to pick up groceries. It was a very busy day with lots of things on my "to do" list. I wanted to get in and get out. I had a job to do and I wanted to get it done and get home to clean house, finish up laundry, and have some quiet time with the Lord.
I was in the snack aisle looking for pretzels when I spotted her. She was talking to herself and she turned and looked at me and before I knew it, she was telling me about going to Sam's Club to get her CapriSun pouches because her kids go through them and then gave me the ages of her children and how her youngest went to school this year. She went on to tell me that she and her husband just don't know what to do with all the time they have together now and then she did it, she told me about her "private time" with her husband. I couldn't believe it. This woman I don't even know was sharing things with me I really didn't want to know and besides, I really needed to get home.
I smiled politely and tried to interact with her but she was keeping me from my tasks so I didn't say a whole lot. She then told me her name and began talking to me about her 16 year old daughter and how our children face much more than we ever did and how these young girls are having babies before they graduate. I walked away from her and just shook my head. I raced through the store picking up the items I needed and headed home.
As I put the groceries away and thought about my conversation with her, my husband asked me about my trip to the store. He chuckled as I shared with him my experience. He left to go back to work and I was left with my thoughts. I felt convicted as I thought about the fact that I really didn't want to speak with her. And, not just her, but anyone. I had laser focus to get home and finish my tasks and then spend time with Jesus.
And then I thought about the verse in Scripture that tells us that we may be entertaining angels unaware. Oh boy, did I screw up!
What if that woman was someone that God put in my path to encourage and to talk to, to be Jesus to? And I was in such a hurry that I missed an opportunity to be that. As I dusted my entertainment center with tears in my eyes, I had to ask the Lord for forgiveness.
Have you ever rushed through your day with a "to do" list a mile long and ignored someone or ran past someone who could have used a word of encouragement?
The Lord showed me over the weekend that the most important part of my day is the part where I allow Him to work and move through me to help someone else, encourage someone else or to serve someone else. Not in cleaning my house, getting my groceries, doing laundry, going to the bank or filling the vehicle up with gas.
As I face my day today I want to focus on doing for others. I want to look for that person who I can smile at or say a kind word to. I want to do something for someone who needs a pick me up. My house will still be there tomorrow to clean, the laundry will still be piled up and we can eat ramen noodles and grilled cheese. I would much rather encourage someone in Jesus than do any of the things on my "to do" list. How about you?
December