News

Well hello there! The good news for today is: Welcoming Words can make a difference in how we respond to unplanned circumstances. For instance, squeaking, squealing brakes. Even though they still have a decent amount of pad on the brakes. They really shouldn’t need replacing right now. Do I want to spend the hundreds of dollars at this time? I could wait until the brakes go out at a rotten time. The answer should be a no-brainer, right? But, I did wonder for a brief moment. I thanked the professional mechanics for their recommendation. They opened the car door and opened my computer. We all went to work.

Today’s Focus:  I settled in to wait for the suggested 1 1/2 – 2 hours to get the job done.  Another customer came in for an oil change. Our eyes met and we exchanged pleasantries. Conversation turned to the current volatile situation in Israel. It turns out that both of her parents had been Holocaust survivors. Who would have thought? Her world had been turned upside down, once again, because of something she had nothing to do with. What could I say or do to give encouragement and hope? 

We sat in silence. I recalled a grieving person saying; “Sometimes, the best gift we can give another, is to sit quietly with them and just care.” Caring. Just being, not fixing.  I heard myself say: “I am so sorry.” A silent bond of fellowship emerged in that moment.

Application:  A helpful practice for me has been to start each day with a prayer of personal relinquishment. In surrender to the sovereign God of the universe, I can pray about the divine appointments and divine interruptions I will encounter in the next hours.  I can’t know what each day will bring. I can rest in the assurance that God goes before me and will use each opportunity for his glory and my good. 

My new best friend in the waiting room, turned to me and began to share the horrors of her heritage and parents. I could listen, care and share wisdom from the Word of God. He offers mercy, grace and hope, through the truth of his Word. When I had no words of my own, the One who knows all, brought words of light, into a day of bleakness. In the midst of mechanical activities, I was reassured by the hope that comes from the One who is in the midst of the activities of a broken world.

Why it matters:  Life is tough. I’d like to encourage each of us to take a deep breath and give a few moments of caring response, to each person who comes across our path. I don’t have to solve the problems of the world. I can simply let one individual know, they are important and cared for. Perhaps they will become a key person in changing another critical situation.  When we use words of welcome and reach out to others, we can indeed change lives, that change lives.

Contact:  Debbie Sorensen at [email protected]