Last week, we started this series by talking about how our number one mission as women is our families. By doing whatever it is that we need to do to take care of our husbands and children…we are fulfilling our number one mission.
Today I want to go to the next step…which is, of course…volunteering to be in charge of a state wide event for your church. KIDDING. I am SO TOTALLY KIDDING.
Seriously…the next important piece of our ministry (in my opinion) is simply working to be a light for Jesus to all those around us whenever we leave our homes. I think that sounds a bit cliche…but to me, this is the simplest form of ministry that I can be a part of outside of my home.
Let me tell you a story…but when you finish reading it you DO NOT get to say, “Oh Laura…you’re so wonderful.”..because this truly was all God and not Laura. Uh-K?
There is a grocery store close to my house where I sometimes shop. A few years ago I got in line to pay…and the gal helping me commented on how cute my baby was (that was Malachi) and oh my there are three more boys behind your cart and wow you have four boys…so we visited a while and I went home.
The next time I went to that store, I got back in this same gal’s line. She remembered me and we visited more. She was so, so sweet…and also maybe a little lonely. Her smile was contagious and I loved visiting with her. She seemed encouraged by our conversation.
Everytime I went to that store, I got in her line on purpose. We kinda became friends. Even when I’d see her around town in a location other than the grocery store, we’d visit and she was always SO excited to see me.
A year or so passed and I didn’t see her much…she wasn’t working at that grocery store anymore.
Then out of the blue one day I ran into her at Wal-mart. This time she had a man at her side and was sporting a pregnant belly. She saw me and REMEMBERED me!!! She hugged me like we were long lost friends…introduced me to her new husband and told me when their baby was due.
I ran into her a few more times here and there (yay, God)…and then guess where she showed up next?
I walked into our church building one Sunday and there she was with her husband and new baby…right in the back pew. I was so excited I ran right over to her…and she broke out in a big grin and hugged me and showed me her new baby and she was so proud. Our family sat with them…that Sunday…and several other Sundays after that…because they kept coming.
They came to our house for Thanksgiving last year. We went to their house for their son’s birthday party. They’ve had another baby since then. We’ve helped with their kids. We’ve taken them food.
I can’t think of Ernie and Melissa without either getting giddy or emotional.
They are one of the sweetest, most unassuming couples we know. They have lived rough lives. They don’t know all the churchy etiquette. They talk in full voice during a prayer saying things like, “Oh man, he’s got crud on the bottom of his shoe.” (Except they don’t say crud.) :)
Some of their friends are a rougher crowd. They’ve introduced us to some of their rougher crowd. Some of their friends said they might like to come to church too. Who knows what might happen?
ALL because I got into Melissa’s line at the grocery store…was kind…and had cute kids in my cart. God is so good.
So…mission number two:
When you go out…to the post office, to the grocery store, to the bank, to the dentist, to the library, to the where-ever…do your best to smile, be polite, and make other people feel loved.
This is kinda hard when you are tired or your kids are tired. Sometimes you feel like all you can do is just make sure no one gets lost and nobody falls out of the shopping cart. I get that. Just do your best.
Not everyone you smile at in the store is going to come to church and start asking you about Jesus. Good grief, they may not even smile back at you.
My encouragement today is simply just to recognize that God’s light can be seen in you when you are going about your daily tasks…and he can work through you…even in the most ordinary ways.
Because God’s ways are extraordinary.
Melonie (Momma & More) says
Your rough crowd comment gave me a chuckle because when I joined my church, I thought I’d be the toughest gal they’d seen in a while because I had a couple of small tattoos.
Then someone warned me (HAHAHA) about another new convert who they considered to be EVER so rough and tough. She had tattoos on her *GASP!* ankles and arms and had short hair and rough language and OH MY. It was really good for a laugh when I got to know her and she turned out to have about the strongest testimony of our Savior that I’ve ever heard. And hear some of the other women were actually scared of her because they were accustomed to a much different “look” and attitude.
NOT knocking your “rough crowd” comments – you brought back a funny, good memory. You are SO right – the first step is a smile and kindness. And who knows what it will bring? It brought me into contact with a woman who was new to faith just like me, who’d had an even rougher life than me at home, and we were “thick as thieves” as they say, for a while.
Tarena says
i loved the “falling out of the shopping cart”!! I definatly hear ya there! =)Thanks for the great reminder!
Roberta Anne says
Laura:
You so touched my heart last week and made me feel good about being a homemaker and taking care of my great grandkids and then this week you shared a way I could reach out and even with being shy I know I could smile and be nice and I find myself wanting a part three and I just want to say thanks.
Roberta Anne
Donna says
God is so good!
It would be a shame to miss a blessing by just focusing on self and self-pity…. many can be touched by a mom who’s kids are 1)in control and/or 2) a mom who can keep her cool when the kids don’t! What an impression you and your boys surely made!(But, we all know it was lil’ Malachi that won her over!)
What a display of Godly Motherhood you must have been to her! Praise the Lord (for you)!
sara says
isn’t it amazing when God gives us a glimpse of how He’s using our lives… just think of all He’s doing that we haven’t been blessed to see just yet! thanks for sharing.
Sherry says
You are such an inspiration. I went out this morning to grab coffee from Starbucks for a friend that is going through a lot right now and needs encouragement. She was so excited!
Beth@Not a Bow in Sight says
I remember my mom knowing all the people who regularly checked her out at the grocery store. The sacker always took out the groceries and put them in the car with a smile. Those were the days…let’s try to bring them back!
Denai says
OH, I so totally agree! I am sooooo sooo that person, always saying things like “OH THAT IS OK, TAKE YOUR TIME!” or “here you only have 3 things, you can go first” BUT my mom on the other hand is embarrassing to be with, she gets upset at things constantly… if the checker is taking toooo long, if the lady in the isle with the loud kid is in our way, if they are out of something you needed… She just flys of the handle… I dislike shopping with her and try to avoid it at all cost… not because I am embarrassed to be with her (I am though) but because I usually have a kid or 4 with me and I don’t want them thinking this is OK behavior… OUR KIDS WILL BE WHAT WE SHOW THEM HOW TO BE!!!!!!!!
Rachel Going says
So so totally cool! xo rachel
vehement flame says
Thanks so much for the encouragement. We don’t go out much but when we do I will be reminded to let the light shine.
Catherine says
Thanks Laura, I am finding this series very encouraging. Looking forward to the next one…
Melanie says
Very cool. Thanks for the reminder that our ministry is wherever we are, and can be incredibly simple. And that sometimes things take way longer than our timeline! :)
Kari says
Let’s not miss the fact that our children are little ministers too: children with a mission. I know Laura knows that and talks about that. I find all the time that my baby is a “conversation starter” if you will. I get to say things like, “I am so blessed to have this baby in my life” and “God is so good” just in response to some simple questions about the cute kid in my cart. :-)