The Girl I Turned Away
“Not again,” I muttered as I climbed the steps to answer the door. The large tote the girl carried told me all I needed to know about the visitor. Over the last two weeks, we’ve bought several stashes of candies and cookie doughs that we certainly don’t need. The members of my family simply can’t say no to a solicitor. Not me. No comes a bit too easily to me.
I answered the door with my no response at the ready. She told me what she was selling and what organization would benefit. I asked if she could leave some information for me to look into. Maybe I would donate online.
“No ma’am. I don’t have any information.”
“Ok, I’ll write down the organization name and find it. Have a nice night.”
As I began to step back inside, she asked, “Ma’am do you have some water you can give me?”
Without hesitation, I responded, “Yes! I’ll be right back.” I grabbed a water bottle and handed it to her wishing her a good evening.
With the closing of the door, I heard the whisper, “When I was thirsty, you gave me water to drink.” The conviction was immediate. I raced down the stairs relaying to Steve what happened. He shook his head, “Renee, this is the same organization that comes every year. They keep teens out of gangs. I never take the candy bar, but I always give them money. It’s not our job to research, we just need to give. Grab money from my wallet and go see if you can find her.”
I jumped in my car and set out down the street knowing she couldn’t get too far. I spotted her crossing the street approaching another home. She set her large tote down several times to rest her arms and reposition her load. When I pulled up to the house she was about to visit, I could see her confused look.
I rolled down the window and waved her over. She approached my car, and I handed her the money. “Here you go. Thank you and have a great night.” She thanked me and simply walked back to her job.
I prayed, “Lord, forgive me for failing to see the people and opportunities you placed before me. Forgive me for holding tightly to what you ask me to give freely. Help me have your perspective and heart. Amen.”
“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:35-40
How do you recognize the voice of God in our lives? We know His Word. We’ve read it so often that when He speaks, we recognize His voice. When I heard God speak, I knew those words weren’t mine. They were the Lord’s.
Do you read the Bible daily? If not, can I lovingly challenge you to begin this one daily discipline that will radically change your life.
