A few weeks ago I wrote a post about an encounter with a woman who was less than kind. She was rude, nosy and cruel in regards to Jalayne's accident. That experience left me struggling for quite some time. While I still cannot find it in myself to believe that her actions were innocent in nature, I have moved on from it and have chosen to forgive.
Today I had a similar experience that was entirely different and left me with a warm, if still sad, feeling in my heart. It happened while I was at work. A patient came in needing to have her blood drawn and was a bit apprehensive. In an effort to ease her anxiety a bit, I made small talk with her. After her comment that she had not seen me working at the office before, I told her that I had worked for this doctor before but took a couple of years off to operate a coffee shop. She very politiely said "a coffee shop? How nice, what made you decide to come back?" I began to feel a bit uneasy with the direction of the conversation but answered vaguely that after a traumatic life event, I needed a change and the simpicity of working for someone else. She seemed to completely understand and commented on the importance of keeping things as stress free as possible, especially if we have children. She asked the how many and how old question. I told her, ending with "my 2.5 year old died a year ago." Her face melted into compassion and she said "I'm so sorry, there is nothing worse than losing a child." She did not tell of any experience, but instinct told me that this was a woman who had known this great sorrow. She then asked, "was she ill?" Feeling completely at ease and unthreatened by this woman, I answered very honestly "No, she died in a water related accident." She did not say a single word but her expression spoke volumes. This woman was hurting for me. She opened her arms and, being a rather large woman, enveloped me in a big, warm hug. Then, with misty eyes, she placed her hand against my face and said "try to have a lovely Christmas and remember, there is heaven."
As she turned and walked away from me, I was struck by the stark contrast between this and the experience I had a few weeks ago. Two women, both Christians, both asking essentially the same questions. One left me feeling weak and hopeless, the other reminded me of the hope that I have. One made me want to punch her in the face, the other made me want to stay in her warm hug a little while longer. The difference was in the tone of voice. Where one seemed kind and compassionate, the other was cruel and accusatory. The difference came from deep within the hearts of these two women. I believe that both love the Lord, but only one of them allowed His love to spill over onto others. While the light of the holy spirit radiated from one, it was lost in ugliness in the other. Life is filled with choices and tonight I know which of theses two women I would choose to be like..........the one who was more like Christ.
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What a great story! Your blog is such an encouragement to me.
ReplyDeletewhat a kind, loving soul. thanks for sharing her caring example and how it blessed your heart - thru and thru.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. :o)
ReplyDeleteI've had extremely simliar experiences. It's sad, and has almost turned me into an introvert. I've found myself angry and not liking people very much, which is not Christ-like. Thank you for your pure honesty. I also thank you for the phrase you used: water related accident. I didn't think to tell this to others. I dislike very much so the "d" word. God bless you! I'm so sorry that others have hurt you with their non-empathetic behavior. Unfortunately others ASSUME that since they passes in a water related accident, we are irresponsible parents. NOT true! Accidents happen everyday, unfortunately, to even the very BEST of parents with the very BEST of intentions. There is simply no way (this was told to me shortly after losing Ethan by a friend) that we as parents can watch our children 24/7/365. We'd never sleep if we watched them like a hawk! Anyway, I will let you go. Sleep well tonight know that our children are with the Lord. I know that this isn't always comforting when your heart hurts so much, it feels like it's breaking into tiny pieces...and you just want your baby back now. The Lord knows that pain, and He understands. :o)
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