A Bakery, A Store and Two Women – Sunday Thought For The Day

As I write this “Sunday Thought” it is Saturday evening and I like many had braved the traffic and crowds to do what remained of my Christmas shopping.  In the course of same I stopped by one of my favorite bakeries located in a farmer’s market.  The market was beyond crowded and as I stood in front of one of the display counters deciding which bit of baked delight I was going to purchase, one of ladies working said to me: “You look so calm and at ease; you must have all of your Christmas shopping done.”  I responded that I still presents to buy and a passel of stops to make.

She remarked again, that I appeared to be so calm and at ease.  I thanked her; made my purchase, wished her a “blessed Merry Christmas” and made my way through the throngs of people back out to the car.

Approximately four hours later I made it home, picked up our son and back to another store we went to get a gift my wife asked me to pick up.  As he and I were making our way through the store, there was a lady standing looking up at the top shelf only a step or so from us.  Finally she gave sort of a frustrated look and turned to push her shopping cart down the aisle.

It was then that I said: “Excuse me, but did you need help reaching something from the top shelf.”  She turned back to me and replied that she didn’t need help she just was looking and thinking.  Then her wrinkled face broke into a warm smile; she thanked me and joking asked where I was a couple days ago when she did need help reaching something on a top shelf.  I laughing responded: “you should have called me.”  We laughed and again she smiled the sweetest smile.  I said God bless you and wished her a blessed Merry Christmas.

As our son and I turned to go the other way in the aisle, I remarked that there was something so precious and sweet about the woman; as I said it, my eyes welled up with tears and my voice broke.  I don’t know what it was that moved my spirit as it did, but I had been deeply moved by the woman.  I told our son that I just wanted to give her a hug.

The woman had a tooth missing in the front of her mouth and her other front teeth were not straight.  Her hair was gray, thinning and mussed.  Her walk was somewhat unsteady.  I said, the lady was the kind of person people would ignore and pass by as if she didn’t even exist.  It was at that moment that I remembered the bakery person’s observation of me.  And things fell into place.

Now; be assured that I’m not tooting my own horn; but this is one of those spirit led teachable moments.  I was calm and completely relaxed at the bakery, the throngs of people hustling about notwithstanding.  I wasn’t the one the counterperson observed who exhibited my calm.  I realized the reason for my calm wasn’t about me, it was about day that celebrate as the birth of Messiah.  Everything I’ve done this Hanukah and Christmas has been about Jesus.  It is He who made the difference.

As for the beautiful disheveled lady we met at the store; my love and compassion was because of the love and compassion shown me by the Child we celebrate as born on Christmas day.  He has showered me with love, mercy, grace and compassion when I deserved His wrath.  He continues to forgive me even when I drop the ball today.  It was His love for me that was shared with that lady.  It was my gratefulness for His sovereignty in my life that so touched my heart for the woman.

I pray this Christmas and every day of the allotted time remaining for all of us who claim Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, that we would remember His compassion and love for us.  May we live our lives in the calm of His grace and may we always look upon others with same, especially those who would be considered the least of us, with true heartfelt love that can only be shared if we know Messiah as our Savior.

READ:

Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.