HUNGRY?
Last Friday I was traveling into town and I saw a woman, walking very slowly, on the side of the road with a bundle on her back. She was walking as if her feet were hurting. When I headed back home minutes later, I felt the Lord saying "give her something to eat". Now, of all the people I had seen with signs "Will work for food" I don't recall giving anyone money or food in the past. That day was different. I felt the Lord's presence and insistence so strongly that I go find something for her to eat and give it to her. She wasn't hitchhiking or looking for anything free that I could tell from her, but I could see she seemed to be having difficulty walking, so I guess this is why I stopped to listen easily of the Lord's nudging me to help this lady.
My house was right around the corner and my mother in law had more options than me in the food department that day. So I stopped by her house. My kids were with her. I asked her if I could make a sandwich for the lady after I told her about the lady. I said, "don't worry I am not taking her anywhere in my van" Who knows what people do these days, you can't trust them. I went inside and made a ham sandwich, got two apples, two small snicker candy bars and a can of cold coke and put it in a bag. I quickly headed out to go and find her.
Not too far from where I had last seen her she was heading in my direction. I turned the van around and parked up a ways from her. I got out , and as I was walking to her on the side of the road, a very busy highway, with my bag of food in hand, an emotion of embarrassment flooded over me. I have no idea where it came from, it was almost like I wanted to stop, turn around and get back in the van. I had this thought of "what if someone I knows sees me and thinks I'm crazy?" This was out of no where as I am a person who could care less what others think when it comes to helping someone.I approached her and asked her if she wanted something to eat, and showed her the food. She said "Yes, I had a sandwich at breakfast, thanks". As she took the food and went over to sit down and eat, I will never forget her shoes. They were so old and worn out, no wonder her feet were hurting! Her face was so weather beaten and red from the sun. She said she was headed for a coastal town (that was a long way). I told her that there was a Salvation Army Camp just up the road and she might could stay there over night. She then walked a few yards in front of me, sat down, and started eating the food.
I then got back in my van and immediately the song below started playing. I knew this was God's affirmation to me that I had done what he wanted me to do and I smiled. This song was special to me because I took my daughter to a concert several weeks ago with Brandon Heath, Leeland, and Francessca Batestelli. This was "The Follow You Tour" and the song below was the theme song. Brandon and Leeland when to another country and visited some kids that were poor and helped them. I didn't have to go across country to follow God that day, God brought someone into my neighborhood to minister to and feed. I think I received as much joy out of it as did the lady who was hungry. As Jesus said in Matthew 25:35 -37 when we give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and take strangers in, visit those in prison, we are doing this service to Him. I can't stop thinking about this lady. I am prayiong she finds the place where she is going and arrives safely and finds someone to help her. I am praying she finds new shoes. Giving a sack lunch won't solve her problems, but it met a temporary need for her and gave me a blessing by "following God."
Artist Name- Leeland
Song lyrics- Follow You
You live among the least of theseThe weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy For me to turn away
All my needs You have supplied When I was dead You gave me life
So how could I not give it away so freely?
And I´ll Follow You into the homes of the broken
Follow You into the world
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God
Follow You into the world
Use my hands use my feet To make Your kingdom come
To the corners of the earth Until Your work is done
Faith without works is dead On the cross Your blood was shed
So how could we not give it away so freely?
And I give all myself I give all myself I give all myself to You
4 comments:
Darlene,
This is just one time you've been the hands and feet of Jesus. I know for a fact that it's just one of the many. I'm glad you felt the joy intended. BTW, I LOVE that song. It's first in my ipod and it gives me chills every time.
thanks for sharing, my friend.
Christy
oh I am crying-you are awesome-I am glad you followede God's leading!
Hi Darlene,
I found your blog from the website NHBO. Just this week we accepted a referral for a 7 year old boy from Beijing. Could you please tell me how the electronic translator works? What if the child doesn't know how to write Chinese? Does the translator speak if you type in a sentence or will it need to be read? Thanks for any help you can give us.
I can be reached at jafaulkn@tctc.com
Beth
hey darlene... i really did take all those things into consideration (sorry, wanted to email you but didn't have your address!)... hence the reason i was very patient and kind when i spoke to him. but, he is the adult- and bears responsibility for how he asks a question in front of a 4 year old who understands the question. so, to be her advocate, i have to answer in the only way that seems appropriate to me- and show her that at no time if she should get the same question is she at all obligated to elaborate on her condition. i answered him honestly (even smiling)- that nothing is wrong with her- she's happy and healthy. had he even once looked at her, said hi to her, etc like everyone else has (young AND old) since we came home, maybe i would have been more open.
i think in the future though i'll just smile and say, 'do you want to ask her that question? she understands what you're asking".
?? i don't know.
feel free to delete this, i really wanted to to email you!
hope you guys are doing well :O)
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