We walked out of the sanctuary into our church’s main lobby. I thought my husband was heading toward the free Father’s Day popcorn table. But he wasn’t. He had veered off to the side of the lobby, his arm around the shoulder of a fellow church member. The two appeared engrossed in a deep conversation.
As we drove home, I was curious and inquired as to what the intense conversation was all about. My husband filled me in.
“During service I noticed that man’s socks. I noticed his socks because of the holes he had in his shoes. I felt a strong nudge from the Holy Spirit to buy the man a pair of shoes…so I was asking the man his shoe size.”
We’ve attended this church for eighteen years. My husband is a giving man, but walking up to a man he has never spoken to before and asking him his shoe size, that was a first.
Me: “Oh, wow…Was he surprised? Was he insulted? Maybe he liked his old shoes.”
My husband: “No, he wasn’t insulted at all. His eyes filled up and his chin quivered. He seemed moved. I gave him my number and asked him to call me. I told him I’d like to meet up with him at the mall.”
Two days later my husband and the man met. There, in the food court, this man began to share his story.
A few poor choices had led him to this place. He has a stable job but he still has a long way to go.
“I don’t do well with handouts. I accepted your offer because I knew it was God. I have a funeral to attend later on this week. This past Sunday morning when you approached me, I had just looked through my closet to see if I had a pair of shoes decent enough to wear to the funeral. I didn’t. So I asked God that morning itself if He could somehow provide a pair of shoes. When you asked my shoe size, I knew God had heard my prayer. I was overwhelmed by God.”
After purchasing the shoes, my husband asked if there was anything else he needed. “No thank you. I’m good. I just asked God for shoes.”
My pastor always reminds us, the church isn’t simply the building we worship in. It’s us. You and me. We are the church. We are the body of Christ. His hands. His feet. When there is a need, if we can meet it, meet it.
Galatians 6:10 tells us, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
So maybe you find yourself alone and in need. Maybe your poor choices have led you to this place.
It doesn’t matter. God still hears you. Even those quiet, desperate prayers you pray alone in your closet. God hears.
Our God will drop everything. He will leave the ninety nine. He will even tug at the hearts of His children, to care for the needs of the one.
-Binu
