Lord, When did we see you...?

Isn't it interesting how God directs our steps even when we are not cognizant of it in the moment? This baffles and thrills me every time it is evidenced. I had one of those moments this morning and I can't wait to share with you what happened.

I had just finished with my voice students at Olivet High School and was driving home. All that I had to accomplish today was running through my head and I was making my list. I knew that I should add a blog post, but I was trying to decide what God would have me share. I was struggling in my mind with whether I should stop for breakfast or just make it at home. Hmm. "If I make it at home it will be cheaper, and my budget really can't afford breakfast out. However, I don't want to take the precious time to make the meal and clean up after...." Goodness, the silliness that fills our minds sometimes. I found myself pulling into Riverside Cafe in Bellevue, Michigan, which is between Olivet High School and my home.

I went inside and found a table in the back, sat down, and was promptly greeted by a friendly waitress. I ordered coffee and put my head into my phone to start my day's work. As I looked up to sip my coffee, I saw a friend walking toward me. "Carol!” I greeted her with a hug and we chatted for a minute, catching up. She told me that she was here to meet a couple of gentlemen who were seated a couple of tables away, but wanted to say "hello" and visit a minute. I went back to my business as she greeted her friends at their table.

As I worked at my table and enjoyed my delicious breakfast, I noticed that the waitress had delivered their breakfast to them. They joined hands, bowed their heads and prayed. As I watched them I began to recognize the face of one of the men. He sat humbly, walker parked beside him. Suddenly, I fully recognized him! Memories came flooding back and my eyes filled with tears! "Crazy old man," I thought of myself as I considered how crazy it must look for me to be sitting there all alone watching these folks and crying; but I couldn't help it. I remembered it as if it were yesterday.

When I was 6 years old in first grade at North Pennfield Elementary School our house was struck by lightening and burned to the ground. My family lost almost everything. We were temporarily housed with our neighbors, Ken and Margie Struin, and their daughters Ruth, Janet, Carol (different than the one I met today in the restaurant), and son Bill. My father was distraught. He felt like he had lost everything. He had recently reduced the insurance on our home because he had just lost the family business. He and my mom were desperately trying to make ends meet. Now they had lost their home and almost all of their belongings. Mom and Dad have told me that it felt like the end; but as is ALWAYS the case, God was about to do something big. It was just the beginning.

I remember that I and my siblings were desperately in need of shoes. The shoes we had were growing small, and we had worn the soles out of them. I remember having holes in the bottom of my shoes, and I remember feeling the ground through the holes as I walked. Mom and Dad cut cardboard pieces to put inside our shoes because they simply didn't have the resources to provide us new shoes. Enter Mr. Otto.

Mr. Otto owned a store in Bellevue, Michigan. He invited my mom to bring us four children to his store to be fitted for new shoes. I remember going to the store and sitting there with my siblings. We were approximately 8, 6, 5, and 3 years old all sitting next to each other in the line of fitting chairs in the shoe department. Mr. Otto fitted us for a new pair of shoes of our choice and gave them to us as an expression of love and support. I will never forget. It makes me emotional to remember.

Mr. Otto is the kind of selfless servant of God that I want to be. Lord, lead me to those who desperately need what I have so that I can freely give. God bless you richly, Mr. Otto. You were the hands and feet of God to us when we needed it most. May we all strive to follow your example. Outstretched Hand, indeed.

Then the King wll say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit 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? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25:31-40 (NIV)