Every day we meet people who need to know they are not alone. It's one way to share God's love.
I came out of the dressing room with too many coats on my arm and approached the cheerful retail clerk.
"Hi," I began, "I was a little too successful! I'll take all four! Thanks for your help. What's your name, by the way?"
"Molly," she replied.
"Molly," I inquired, "what's your big dream?"
Keep in mind, I had just attended a Big Dream Conference with Bob Goff so dreams were on my mind. He's a guy with big dreams and wants everyone to dream big so he's not alone and so everyone does what God created them to do. He's also got big hands. (Hear his great legacy in his own big words on my podcast HERE. Ep 50 A Love Does Legacy with Bob Goff)
Back to Anthropologie's big sale:
Startled, Molly, my retail clerk, took a moment to think. "Keep it simple," she replied.
I thought to myself, That doesn't sound particularly profound. Oh brother, as if I'm the big judge of what is profound. God cured me of that in the next couple of seconds.
Before I could reply in some sort of nice way, she continued: "My six-year-old daughter had 3 brain cancer surgeries this past year. I've learned to keep things simple to concentrate on what matters most."
Learned my lesson in a hurry. "Keep it simple" was more than profound; it was a necessity and life-giving. I couldn't help but reach out and place my hand on her arm, "Oh, Molly, I'm so sorry."
We continued talking and I asked for her contact information. I told her that a good friend of mine also experienced a similar year with her 7-year old going through brain cancer. I asked if I could give her number to my friend, and she agreed.
Then Molly exclaimed, "Oh! I love your heart necklace! Goldenrod yellow is my daughter's favorite color!" I was wearing a little yellow heart from Lisa Leonard Designs.
I loved yellow too.
I thought right then and there, I can give her this little necklace. Everyone likes a surprise gift.
I checked out and promptIy forgot to hand her the necklace. Oh brother, for the second time. Then, got in my car with my very big bags and drove to the next town where I would be speaking.
Two days later I remembered I'd be driving right past her store on the way back to the airport. I said a little prayer, "Lord please go before me as I give a little something to a mom who has had a heartbreaking year and doesn't know what's around the bend."
I had enough time before my flight, so I took the mall exit, found that big and beautiful store, walked in and asked for Molly. "Oh, I think she just left," the woman at the counter replied.
Ah well, there was a chance that would be the case.
"That's okay," I said, "I bought some clothes here the other day which she helped me with and we got to talking and she told me her little girl loved goldenrod. I'd like to leave this necklace for her. Maybe I could write a little note?"
She handed me a little notepad but then raised her walkie talkie: "Has Molly left yet? No? There's someone here to talk to her."
A few moments later, a very surprised Molly appeared. "Oh! Hi! How did your talk go?" (So kind of her to remember.)
"Great, thanks. Hey, I meant to give you this for your little girl." And I handed her the necklace.
"Wow, so kind of you!"
And we both teared up a little. I reached out again to touch her arm again—after all, we were almost best friends at this point—and said, "I'm happy to do it and if you like, maybe we can stay in touch. I'd really like you to connect with my friend, Lindsey."
I didn't plan to make a new friend, give away a necklace or connect two young mothers. But God did. That was His big dream.
He knows where we are in a crowd of coats and people.
Crowds surged around Jesus one day but one woman in particular got what she was looking for: complete healing.
A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, "Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you."
But Jesus said, "Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me." When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.
"Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well. Go in peace." (Luke 8:43-48)
What an embarrassing situation for this poor woman, especially in a day when women weren't to make a fuss and their bodily functions were not to be discussed.
When we're desperate we don't care about embarrassment. We just need Jesus and an end to our desperation. No one else noticed her but Jesus. He felt her touch and knew He had made all the difference in her life.
Are you sick in need of healing? A bit of notice may be all you need to get you through the week. Does anyone really care that I'm in pain? In crisis? At the end of the tunnel with only the light of an oncoming train in front of me?
The answer is yes. God cares. He sees you. He knows your favorite color. He can feel your slightest touch and He wants you to know.
One retail clerk. Two horrific years, one for Molly, one for Lindsey. Four coats (they were on sale!) One little yellow necklace.
I like to think that God's into every detail of my life and since I love shopping, He's into that detail. Not only what I buy, but who I see because He knows who I need to see. And who needs to feel seen by a God who loves them more than life itself. And He's into goldenrod heart necklaces, sale coats and hardworking mothers who would give anything for their babies to be healed.
Don't do life with blinders on. Instead, be like God who sweeps the the earth with His gaze of love.
Be that one to ask a question: "What's your big dream? I'll pray for that for you. You are not alone."
Prayer for today:
"Lord, God,
Help me see someone today with your eyes and let them know they aren't alone. Give me boldness and grace and timing. Thank you that you feel every tug on your garment. I'm tugging now. I need your healing and peace. Thank you and amen. "
PS
Out with the plaid man on a chilly day (not like today!), wearing two of my sale items:
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