I
ran into Aldi’s the other day to do a little grocery shopping. I just needed chicken, raw almonds and
feta cheese. That’s it. Quick. Easy. In and out. Or so I thought. After quickly buzzing through the store, I
got up to the ONE check-out line and found twelve people- no joke- standing
there. Most with shopping carts heaped high with groceries. Well,
I said to my grumbly self, “Sheesh, you’d think they’d open another line or at
least, someone would let me go ahead
of them since I’ve only got a few things. I really don’t have time for
this. I’ve got way too much to do!”
And
then, totally out of the blue, this thought came to mind... “Mary, you need to
pray for these people.” Now, I’ve come
to realize that when I have a totally out-of-the-blue-not-what-I-want-to-do
thought that, though not audible, is still deeply impressed upon my heart... Yep,
it’s probably the Holy Spirit.
So,
deciding to be quasi-obedient, I began a pretty generic draw-them-all-to-You
kind of prayer. And then another not-me
thought came to mind... “Mary, pray specifically for each person in this store.”
And my thought, “But I can’t! I’ll lose my place in line!” Really Mary?
You’ll lose your place in line?
Really? That's the best you've got?!
So,
I turned my cart around, {darn, now I was fifth in line} and began
to take
notice of each person around me.
I began
to walk back through the aisles and pray specifically for:
The
man with the skeleton tattoo on his neck.
The woman with blond hair,
black roots and multiple piercings.
The
mom with the red-headed toddler and sleeping baby in the cart.
The
sad-faced, white haired woman choosing ice-cream.
The
elderly gentleman with a slight limp and a kind smile.
The
forty-something woman on her cell-phone.
The
tall blond woman in a black dress coat on her cell-phone.
And,
on it went.
After
each person had been prayed for, I finally made my way back to the front of the
store. There was no one left in the
check-out line... just me. So I loaded
my few groceries onto the belt, talked and laughed with the cashier, handed her
my money and waving good-bye, prayed for her.
After
loading my groceries, I sat in my car, head on the steering wheel and cried...
Oh God, what an honor it is to pray for those You love. Forgive me for my selfishness. Help me to have Your heart for
those around me. Help me to, at the very
least, give mental recognition to each person I see. They exist. They matter. Help me to love as You love, care about those You care about.
Show me Lord...
1. It’s not about me or my schedule.
2. Every single person
matters. You matter. God cares deeply for each man, woman, and
child that I walk past.
3. No one, No. One. is nameless or
faceless to Him.
4. When God says “Go”, never
say “But, I....” Don’t say anything but... Yes.
I need to go to Wal-Mart this week... That's a very busy place. Lots of people.
Honestly, I'm a little worried that the Lord will ask me to pray for everyone there... Surely not :)
“A
new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love
one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another”
John
13:34, 35
Living
in His grace,
Mary
How aware are you of the people around you?
Has God asked you to do something out of your box?!
If so, how did you respond?
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