It was one of those days. It had been hectic at work, and I was exhausted. My head was pounding; begging me for relief. As I drove down the highway, I dug through my purse trying to find the small packet that contained my migraine pill. To my dismay, it wasn’t there. Knowing that meant I was out of medication, I stopped at the pharmacy near my house. Since I didn’t have time to call in my prescription before I got there, I made a mental note of all the little things I was out of so I could shop around while I waited for the pharmacist to fill my prescription. I walked around the store in a stupor looking for soap, shampoo, a card for a baby shower I was going to that weekend … just wasting time until my prescription was filled.
Finally, they called my name. When I went up to the counter, I noticed a man about my height wearing a blood-stained shirt standing there with a scared look in his eyes. As I looked closer, I noticed his face was full of cuts and scratches and blood was oozing out of his freshly stitched wounds. Not wanting to stare, I looked back at the pharmacist. He was telling the man that he didn’t know Spanish and no one else at the store knew how to speak Spanish either. But the man continued to question him about his prescription. The pharmacist just shrugged his shoulders and said the only person who could help him had gone home. So the man just continued to stand there.
Then, the man turned to me and asked, “¿Español?”
“Muy poquito,” I responded, wishing I’d retained more from the four semesters of Spanish I took in college.
I felt frustrated for him. No one was even trying to help him. The pharmacist just turned to me and started scanning my items. I knew I had to do something. But what? I glanced through the contact list in my phone trying to think of a friend I could call who spoke Spanish. Once again, I was at a dead end. I couldn’t speak enough Spanish, and I didn’t have a phone number for anyone else who could speak Spanish.
Out of all the days for something like this to happen, this definitely wasn’t the best day. I was tired, my head hurt, and I just wasn’t in a very pleasant mood. And on top of that, the man who needed help was practically covered in blood. Why would God choose this day, this time and this man?
I paid for my items and started to walk out of the store, but I kept trying to think of a way to help him. I couldn’t shake that look in his eyes from my mind. I just knew I couldn’t leave this poor man alone. When I was almost to the door, I felt a nudge in my spirit … “Ask that man walking out the door.” Quickly, I stopped a family that was almost out the door.
“Excuse me, do you speak Spanish?” I asked them.
The wife turned to me and said, “No, but my husband does.”
The husband then turned to the wounded man and began helping him with his questions. As they walked back to the pharmacy to get answers, I left the store feeling a huge sense of relief.
I wonder how many times I’ve had the opportunity to let God use me, but I don’t because I’m too busy or too tired. God chose for that man to come across my path on that particular day and at that specific time, because He knew that it would take me out comfort zone and increase my faith in Him. And because He wanted to take my faith to a new level. This situation also helped me to see that God can use me to help other people no matter what I’m going through or how I feel. I just have to be willing.
Are you willing to let God use you?
“There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’”
“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
Luke 10:30–37
Thank you for the encouragement to always pay attention to what God is wanting to do through us.
i LOVE this!!! So simple and easy for you to do but a HUGE blessing to him. Thanks so much for writing! I am going to be LOOKING for my ways to bless people!!
Stacy, this is so cool!
!!
You didn’t have to be the translator, but by your willingness to listen to Him, He led you to help.
I love that story!
Stacy, what a great story! I know that feeling, when the Holy Spirit totally tugs at your heart and your not sure how to help, but u know your suppose to. Thank u 4 sharing and encouraging us to be sensitive to Him- that inner voice inside us and to not be so focused on “us” that we forget our greater purpose.
Stacy, thanks for sharing that! You are so dead on correct when you say how many times have we let opportunities slip by. I am sure that I have. I too will be looking for ways to help and try to slow down long enough to listen.
I love this story. I love how God supplied this man’s need through you! I am going to be looking and listening so I don’t miss times that God wants to use me. Your story blessed me so much!
How many moments like these do most of us miss because of our commitments or schedules or, in your case, attention to our needs – which, in the end, didn’t keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose in that store?
God has been placing this prayer need on my heart in the past couple weeks…to be aware, to ASK for His promptings and for the ability to hear them when they come…and for the heart of willingness to complete His request regardless of where I am or what I may be doing.
Thank you for encouraging us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is a reminder we all need from time to time.
Oh, anyone should be honored to call you friend! I love your heart for Him! thank you for reaching out !It’s so easy to get wrapped up in real life needs and find it hard to see others! I pray that I walk in that kind of grace! It also reflect that He calls us unequipped often and gives us the tool in His timing! I can’t wait to share this story with my family!!
Stacy,
I love this! Now that is “Compassion to Action,” stole that from Mark Jobe;) Thanks for being a light for Jesus and giving Him the gift of your time. You are a true treasure and I love you!
Great Love,
~Ris
I really related to this story. It seems that God does take us out of our comfort zone to serve Him. We just need to listen more and obey. This sure follows Ron’s Suday sermon. Thanks for sharing. Pat Brogdon
i was really moved to some serious self-contemplation after reading this blog, thanks so much for sharing!
Stacy,
I love the “everydayness” of your story. Thanks for inspiring us to slow down and listen and look beyond our own busy lives to share the love of God in everyday small ways.
I loved this blog. I’m like you in that I get really frustrated when I see people being overlooked because the either don’t fit into society’s mold or are too much effort. Something in me rises up against such injustice. You have the Father’s heart Stacy. I know He is proud you.
Stacy-what a genuine look at how we really are all about ourselves sometimes. I just wanted to vomit as I read about your disregard for some people by some people. I have never understood who made the scale for the worthiness of life that we as a society have chosen to follow. Thank you for looking beyond yourself and sharing your love for human life with us. love walking this out with women like you ~m
a blessing to read…
D. Yuknavich
I love that Stacy! I also love the Good Samaritin parable. Consider this different twist on the parable It give an account of the beginning of time to the end. I was blown away when I heard this in a Bible Study titled “The Parables of Jesus”. All I can say is “Wow and Hallelujah!”…….And behold, a religious man stood up and asked Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal Life?” He said to him, “What is writen in the Bible, and how well do you understand it?” He answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered and said: “Adam went down from the Paradise of God to Satan’s domain. There Satan stripped him of his clothing, caused him to sin and departed, leaving Adam spiritually dead and separated from God. Moses came down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side because the Law recealed sin but could not remove it. Likewise, Aaron, of the Levitical priesthood, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side because the animal sacrifices could not permanently remove sin and restore Adam’s race back to God. Then Jesus came! He came where he was because sinful man could not come to Him. And when He saw him, He had compassion. So He went to him and bandaged his spiritual wounds and poured in the Holy Spirit and His own blood to heal and revive his dead spirit. He placed man’s sins on the cross and established the church to care for him. On the next day, when He departed, He paid the ministers for 2,000 years of labor. He commissioned the ministers by saying “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you’. So your neighbor is any sinner who is in need of salvation. Go now and save them”…….. In this variation, Jesus represents the good samaratin (It says “a CERTAIN Samaratin”. A samaratin is half Jew. Jesus = God/man) J”came where he was” Jesus came where we were in our sins. “…bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine” (The giving of the Holy Spirit and blood of Jesus) “…set him on his own animal” (The cross,symbolized by the Old Testament animal sacrifices) “..brought him to an inn and took care of him” (The church) “..when he departed” (The Ascension) “…he took out two denari” (Two days’ wages or prophetically 2,000 years) “…gave them to the innkeeper” (The ministry) “Take care of him” (The commission of the church) “…and whatever more you spend, when I come again…” (The prophecy of His return) “I will repay you” (God will reward)