Giving and receiving

We talk a lot in our home about "following the nudge" or listening to the Holy's Spirit voice, stepping out of your comfort zone, and helping or encouraging someone else. Just like anything else, it takes practice. It can feel weird. It can seem unsafe or unwise.

One morning last week, The Good Doctor was sitting in his office (McDonald's) enjoying his cup of water (Sweet Tea), when he overheard two teen guys from the high school say that they had missed the bus. He felt that nudge, heard that Voice, "Offer to take them to school." It didn't take long for him to decide to do just that. They jumped at the chance and after also offering to buy them breakfast (one agreed, the other didn't), he drove them to school. The drive was less than 10 minutes but he used the time to talk with them about their plans after high school, encouraged them to make school a priority, and reiterated the importance of that diploma. In the grand scheme of things, a fairly inconsequential act, taking up less than half an hour of his time, and going just slightly out of his way.

Apparently it was so much more to these two young men. They saw Mariana during the school day and loudly told her how awesome her dad was and how there should be more people like Mr. King in this world. They were so impressed that he had given them his business card and told them to contact him at any time if they wanted to talk about post graduation, or school, or life in general.

We never know when we might make a difference in someone else's life.

And when it happens to us, we need to remember.

That same night, The Good Doctor and I were out to eat. Just the two of us. I know, how did that happen, right? Thanks to Mariana being gone, the boys having a job, the girls at a birthday party, and a saint who agreed to watch Mr. Victor, we were alone.

We enjoyed our meal which we didn't have to make or clean up, and the conversation was only interrupted by the waitress who wanted to serve us and wasn't interrupted by little people who think we are here solely to serve them. Towards the end of the meal the waitress came and said, "Okay, well, if you don't need anything else, you're free to leave whenever you want; your meal has been paid for."

We just stared at each other.

And then The Good Doctor stood up to look around the crowded Friday night restaurant. He couldn't see anyone he knew and besides, I told him, sit down. He wanted to know who to thank. I told him I had a feeling they didn't need to be thanked.

It wasn't that we were in dire straits and were going to have to wash dishes to pay for our meal but this kind gesture did allow us to deposit the cost of the meal into the next child's orthodontic expenses. Even more than that, it encouraged this weary mom in ways that the giver will never know.

Thank you.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9