Words of Encouragment

Perhaps I'm overly sentimental because Liz has flown the coop to South San Francisco. Or, perhaps it's because I think watching Shoshi's athletic endeavors reminds me how beautifully God created her. Or, perhaps it was just one of those days. BUT, on Saturday, day three of a basketball tournament I suddenly found myself really wanting to travel to Indy in order to watch Shoshi and her team compete. 

However, I had no one to watch the dogs, it was too late to carpool, and the drive for just one hour of watching was so expensive. So, I stayed home. But, I was starting to have myself a little pity party. Things just weren't going as planned. Now, mind you, I was actually convicted that I SHOULD be home, and I SHOULD be saving money, and I SHOULD be catching up on work. BUT, that's not what I WANTED. I was grumpy. 

After dropping off Shoshi, and dropping a few tears in the car, I headed to Aldi's. HA! Not a place you expect God to speak to you, but hey. I had shopping to do, and money to save, and that was the plan. I strolled through the store, trying to remind myself to be thankful and that I was doing what was right. David called and told me to just go ahead and go up for the one game. But, as I thought of him sitting at his desk working hard on a Saturday in order to do a good job AND to provide for us it just seemed too selfish. So, I declined and continued on with shopping, 

As I left the store I glanced over at another woman and gave her a smile in return for the smile she flashed my way. Then I wandered out to the van to unload the groceries. I turned around when I heard "Excuse me," and saw the same woman from inside. I glanced around expecting that I had dropped something or perhaps she was speaking to someone else, but then she surprised me. 

She looked right at me and said, "You may find this odd, but I was praying while shopping and asking the Lord who I might pray with or pray for. As I spoke to my heavenly daddy you smiled at me and I knew you were the one. God wants me to tell you that he is pleased with you today. That you have a light around you and that your smile means a lot." That's right... God was pleased with me.

WHAT? Me the whiner and pity party person? But, sometimes, as we battle to be obedient and battle to get our emotions under control we forget that we can't be perfect, but that God recognizes what we are trying to do. He didn't have to have someone speak to me, or give me a "daddy hug" as she called it. But, He did. It helped me the rest of the day as I missed my girl, as I heard she had played more than usual, and as I heard she made 4 points. But, I did what I believed I was supposed to do, and God sent me some encouragement. 

I don't know who this woman was. Perhaps someone I'll see again. Perhaps a visitor to town. Perhaps an angel. Or, perhaps simply a person who listens to God and obeys. I just know that my day changed at that moment. And, actually, my life may have changed.

Listen. 

Obey. 

Encourage one another. 

Love God! 

8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore [h]encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5: 8-11