Recently, someone, I interact with at work from time to time, invited me to a potluck at one of the schools I serve. During this event, she shared that her BFF, since middle school, was going through the ringer. Since she thought of me as a doc with good prescriptions of counsel; she once again turned to me. . She seemed more hesitant than usual, and quietly slipped in that her friends’ trouble had to do with the woman she’s been in relationship with for the past decade. Nonplussed, I flowed with compassion without missing a beat especially when I remembered that she knew I believed on Jesus Christ. . The import being that when I was ready to leave, she said she’d walk me out. Now mind you, the exit was maybe 40 feet away from where we were sitting talking all this time. Yet, somehow she needed to ply me with questions that she didn’t want overheard by her coworker; questions about God for she saw that I hadn’t judged her friend; but instead, had once again given good counsel. . Outside on a beautiful Friday night, we talked for almost an hour. What an amazing difference it is to understood grace and be free of my terrible religious behavior connected to my abuse filled past that wrecked relationships. Behavior that caused people to turn aside from me, instead of to me; and mindsets that would not have allowed for this conversation or the one leading up to it to have been impossible. . Now, flowing easily with Holy Spirit and compassion, I was able to share a God who understood her heart. I was able to give an answer for the pain filled questions that burst forth from her lifetime of hurt. She looked wearily into the face of God and experienced a Father who cared. Finally she found answers for what Jesus and the cross accomplished. . She stood captivated as I shared recent testimonies of His workings in my life and of the miraculous healing of my ankle; of how seventy year old Mary who had walked with a cane jumped excitedly up and down after I prayed for her and God healed her and filled her with joy. . Reluctantly, we took leave till Monday, for she needed to return to help her coworker oversee the final shutting down of the potluck and the clearing out of the gym from the girls’ basketball practice. I felt no compulsion to cause her to make a decision or confess anything; instead trusting Holy Spirit I said goodnight and genuinely returned her warm hug. . Yet, I went home overflowing with peace and joy celebrating that she had met the God who loved her and gave His all for her. I knew that never again would she see Him the way she had before this evening and I was certain that she’d never be the same; that something amazing and eternal had just happened. . ~ Eileen Brennan
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 01:21:57 +0000
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