LeaveaTrace.net



	*Leave a Trace Stories...* *At Chick-fil-A...* One morning after my son’s dentist appointment we raced to a local fast food restaurant to try to get a biscuit before they stopped serving at 10:30. We came skidding to the counter and offered a game of rock, paper, scissors to the man ordering at our side in case we all wanted the same biscuits from the few that were left. We all managed to get our first choice but about 10 minutes into our treats, the counter person came to our table with money in hand. She said, “I shouldn’t have taken this money, I didn’t realize it was after breakfast hours and we don’t charge for the remaining biscuits.” “Good to know,” I said, “I’ll try to be here everyday at 10:35!” She was very apologetic and timid and kept offering me the money. I asked if she had a church home. She said she did and I told her to just keep it and put it in the offering on Sunday…it wasn’t much anyway, just a few dollars. She stood there for a brief second and said, “Since you know the Lord, will you pray for my husband? He has been out of work for a while and has an interview this afternoon.” I felt a tremendous urge to pray with her then but she was called back to the counter at that moment. My son and I did pray for her and I have many times since. Each time I return and she is there, I ask about her and her husband. I don’t know if she remembers that event or why I always ask about her…but I do. My husband has been through three layoffs since we married 23 years ago. Although every situation is unique, sometimes when we can express how God brought us through a similar situation it is comforting to someone new to that scenario. We don’t have to have answers…a compassionate ear is often one of the most healing balms. *At the Hospital...* My mother-in-law is 78 years old. We have always had a pretty unnatural mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship…we really love each other! In the fall she was admitted to the hospital. As it was last minute admittance, there was no room on the medical floor and she was put on the gyn/oncology floor. We were discussing the pressures children have today in schools and homes and how the commonplace reminders and references to God, His nature, His laws that she and I grew up with, no longer exist for children today. (I still remember prayer in public schools!) Her nurse came in, introduced herself and we asked about her family. As she began to tell us about her children I think I made a reference to prayer and being unable to raise a family without it. That did it! Being verbal about my faith gave her permission to talk about her family and their walk. We were loud and laughing when the nurse’s assistant came in to introduce herself and begin her tasks. The first nurse said, “She knows what we are talking about,” and the Assistant jumped into the conversation with her own stories. The first nurse left and as we all talked and shared, the atmosphere changed in the room. It was one of the most intense Christian “sisterhoods” I’ve ever experienced. The questions and needs the assistant had seemed tailor made to my mother-in-law’s experiences and faith journey. She, in turn, reinforced my mother-in-law as an encourager and a woman of wisdom. Each one of us looked forward to daily visits together and the bonding and building of our Spirits. It was a total gift absolutely orchestrated by God. But I don’t think it would have ever happened if the name of Jesus wasn’t spoken out loud. *At the book store...* I sat in an unfamiliar bookstore coffee shop forty five minutes away from my house talking to a friend about “serving God.” How do we do it? Where do we do it? What does service look like? If we have the means to reach 100 is service confined to that scenario? If we feel we don’t have the skills to serve, will God provide the situation whether we are aware or not? My friend went to the restroom and a woman at the table behind me made a comment about where my friend said he was from. This woman was from that area too. We chatted about the coast and what she missed. She said what she missed most was a home, because she was homeless. It was as if “scales fell from my eyes,” as I saw, for the first time, the multiple layers of clothes she wore, the assorted bags at her feet and the stack of books and magazines she had on the table to read during the afternoon there away from the winter cold. I’ll stop right here and tell you that I have ministry passions…but serving the homeless is not at the top of my gifts. That’s a nice way of saying it makes me uncomfortable to be in situations where I can’t fix things. I feel awkward and embarrassed when I am reminded how much I have and how little I share. It was my turn for the restroom and when I returned my friend and I wrapped up our conversation. As we were doing so, a strong undeniable feeling came over me. I knew I could not walk out that door unless I put my arms around that woman and told her how much she was loved. As we left, I leaned down and did just that. I asked if she had any needs I could provide. She had just one…a warm blanket. She begged me not to buy anything, she said for me to just look around my house and I would surely find one. (She was right, I did.) I pushed her for anything else I could provide and we arranged a time when the two of us could meet again. My friend provided a backpack and I had the best time gathering things I thought might make this woman’s life easier in some way. It was pure privilege to meet her again and share them. On that day, I don’t know who among us was “leaving a trace.” I just know God left an indelible mark on me.
LeaveaTrace.net, Leave a Trace, O.A.K.s, and Whispers are Trademarks of Leave a Trace. All images ©2010 - 2011, Leave a Trace. All Rights Reserved. All writing published on www.leaveatrace.net is meant for inspiration. Any similarities found with personal experiences are considered a "God Thing."

Leave a Trace Stories...

At Chick-fil-A...

One morning after my son’s dentist appointment we raced to a local fast food restaurant to try to get a biscuit before they stopped serving at 10:30. We came skidding to the counter and offered a game of rock, paper, scissors to the man ordering at our side in case we all wanted the same biscuits from the few that were left. We all managed to get our first choice but about 10 minutes into our treats, the counter person came to our table with money in hand.

She said, “I shouldn’t have taken this money, I didn’t realize it was after breakfast hours and we don’t charge for the remaining biscuits.”

“Good to know,” I said, “I’ll try to be here everyday at 10:35!”

She was very apologetic and timid and kept offering me the money. I asked if she had a church home. She said she did and I told her to just keep it and put it in the offering on Sunday…it wasn’t much anyway, just a few dollars.

She stood there for a brief second and said, “Since you know the Lord, will you pray for my husband? He has been out of work for a while and has an interview this afternoon.” I felt a tremendous urge to pray with her then but she was called back to the counter at that moment. My son and I did pray for her and I have many times since. Each time I return and she is there, I ask about her and her husband. I don’t know if she remembers that event or why I always ask about her…but I do.

My husband has been through three layoffs since we married 23 years ago. Although every situation is unique, sometimes when we can express how God brought us through a similar situation it is comforting to someone new to that scenario. We don’t have to have answers…a compassionate ear is often one of the most healing balms.

At the Hospital...

My mother-in-law is 78 years old. We have always had a pretty unnatural mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship…we really love each other! In the fall she was admitted to the hospital. As it was last minute admittance, there was no room on the medical floor and she was put on the gyn/oncology floor. We were discussing the pressures children have today in schools and homes and how the commonplace reminders and references to God, His nature, His laws that she and I grew up with, no longer exist for children today. (I still remember prayer in public schools!)

Her nurse came in, introduced herself and we asked about her family. As she began to tell us about her children I think I made a reference to prayer and being unable to raise a family without it. That did it! Being verbal about my faith gave her permission to talk about her family and their walk. We were loud and laughing when the nurse’s assistant came in to introduce herself and begin her tasks. The first nurse said, “She knows what we are talking about,” and the Assistant jumped into the conversation with her own stories. The first nurse left and as we all talked and shared, the atmosphere changed in the room. It was one of the most intense Christian “sisterhoods” I’ve ever experienced. The questions and needs the assistant had seemed tailor made to my mother-in-law’s experiences and faith journey. She, in turn, reinforced my mother-in-law as an encourager and a woman of wisdom. Each one of us looked forward to daily visits together and the bonding and building of our Spirits. It was a total gift absolutely orchestrated by God. But I don’t think it would have ever happened if the name of Jesus wasn’t spoken out loud.

At the book store...

I sat in an unfamiliar bookstore coffee shop forty five minutes away from my house talking to a friend about “serving God.” How do we do it? Where do we do it? What does service look like? If we have the means to reach 100 is service confined to that scenario? If we feel we don’t have the skills to serve, will God provide the situation whether we are aware or not? My friend went to the restroom and a woman at the table behind me made a comment about where my friend said he was from. This woman was from that area too. We chatted about the coast and what she missed. She said what she missed most was a home, because she was homeless. It was as if “scales fell from my eyes,” as I saw, for the first time, the multiple layers of clothes she wore, the assorted bags at her feet and the stack of books and magazines she had on the table to read during the afternoon there away from the winter cold. I’ll stop right here and tell you that I have ministry passions…but serving the homeless is not at the top of my gifts. That’s a nice way of saying it makes me uncomfortable to be in situations where I can’t fix things. I feel awkward and embarrassed when I am reminded how much I have and how little I share.

It was my turn for the restroom and when I returned my friend and I wrapped up our conversation. As we were doing so, a strong undeniable feeling came over me. I knew I could not walk out that door unless I put my arms around that woman and told her how much she was loved. As we left, I leaned down and did just that. I asked if she had any needs I could provide. She had just one…a warm blanket. She begged me not to buy anything, she said for me to just look around my house and I would surely find one. (She was right, I did.) I pushed her for anything else I could provide and we arranged a time when the two of us could meet again. My friend provided a backpack and I had the best time gathering things I thought might make this woman’s life easier in some way. It was pure privilege to meet her again and share them.

On that day, I don’t know who among us was “leaving a trace.” I just know God left an indelible mark on me.

All writing published on www.leaveatrace.net is meant for inspiration. Any similarities found with personal experiences are considered a "God Thing."