|    My day began as usual,,early,devotions, one cup of coffee before leaving for the Corps and a sore throat...I have been struggling with my ministry lately and questioning some things. We all have those people who know what buttons to push and I am no different. There are times I just wanted to walk away..lock my self in the closet is a good old term. Well today the Lord threw an unexpected curve my way.
A woman called this morning and talked to the Social Worker. They work closely together at Christmas so I knew who she was. She didn't want to talk to her, she wanted to talk to a pastor and not a priest!!! I picked up the phone and we began to talk. Was I to busy for her to come down to the office and talk with me? Opportunity for ministry,,of course I said yes, just come when you can I am here../Her voice was filled with despair and she was holding back the tears or trying. I was heading in for a cup of coffee with my staff and a lady came threw the door. We went my office, such as it is, sat down and she began to cry. I listed intently while she unloaded. This is a strong lady, very opinionated but she was hurting deeply. K proceeded to tell he her daughter 23 has breast cancer, it is bad, she is in the hospital having chem, has 3 little children and won't be home for Thanksgiving. She went on trying to gain composure but struggled. Said that yesterday she never got to the hospital to see her daughter because everyone else was bringing their children to her to watch so they could go...This morning they wanted to do the same thing but she told them NO, they needed to figure out their own arrangements that she needed to be at the hospital. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and her family is hosting a Dinner for friends and family, 50 of them and she can't do it... She wants to be at the hospital...she needs to be at the hospital...she wanted to take a handful of pills so she didn't have to deal with this,,,it wasn't right, her daughter is only 23...you can figure out the rest of the conversation.....my heart was braking,,can only imagine what this mom is going through. When our children hurt, we hurt,,we want to take the pain away, we want to fix it all but we can't.... I shared scripture with her and prayed with her. She doesn't attend a church or place of worship..I promised I would pray for her, her daughter and the family. I promised I would not get so busy that I won't call and see how she is doing and I won't be so busy that I can't get up to the hospital to visit...I promised..... We get so busy, so consumed with kettles, LOM, Corps parties, toy shops, food collections and the list goes on that we forget who we are. Today I was a pastor,,today I had an opportunity to pray with a stranger, today I reintroduced a woman to the Great Physician, Prince of Peace, Counselor and Father!! Take time for that stranger, that phone call, that request... This Thanksgiving I am thankful for a wonderful family and good friends near and far!! I am thankful for those people who enter our lives at just the right time,,I am praying for those who are hurting, broken hearted,,and lonely. I am praying for friends who lost a loved one recently. So many hurting people yet there is hope... |
