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And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4:21 NKJV
The Little Country Market
Many years ago, I worked in a little country market.
Everyone knew everyone in that little rural spot.
I loved being there, doing what I did, and hoping I was doing more than just my job of selling groceries. People came to shop, and some with a desire to talk to someone. I was more than happy to be that someone. Truly, I never gave it too much thought. I loved what I did, and people to mini-visit with were an added plus to the daily work.
One day, a new woman came in.
She was older and quiet, and we shared a few words.
She continued to come in every week or two. Frankly, I never gave HER too much thought. She bought her groceries, we spoke a bit, and she left.
One day, she came in with a considerably younger woman. I assumed this was her daughter.
The older lady was smiling broadly as she pushed her daughter toward me.
“Here she is,” she said to her daughter by way of introduction, as she gestured wildly toward me.
“This is my very best friend.”
Realization struck that she was talking about ME to her daughter!
I smiled and greeted the younger woman, and tried to recover quickly from the shock of her mother’s words.
I barely knew this woman.
Yet she thought of me as her best friend!?
I could barely recall our conversations in her previous visits to the store.
The lady smiled at her daughter and continued, “I told you I was doing great living here.”
After more pleasantries, the ladies both left. I was standing there, feeling I had missed some profound lesson.
In the years to follow, the Lord taught me some things about that day, and others like it.
How many times have our brief friendships or acquaintanceships made a difference in another’s life?
How many times were we completely oblivious to the importance of our presence to another’s well-being?
Some lives might be incredibly lonely, yet we are unaware of another’s pain.
Our few words of greeting and caring might make their day.
Likewise, our lack of interaction might bring sorrow.
I hope that I never again treat so lightly the feelings of another.
I hope I pour love and kindness and JESUS into every interaction, no matter how seemingly unimportant it might appear to me.
We never know who is empty and needs the kindness we are there to pour into another life.
It is nearing Thanksgiving as I write these words. This incident happened a quarter of a century ago.
I thank God for all the opportunities He has given since that day to love and make a difference in the lives of others.
He gives opportunities to each of us, particularly believers.
I thank Him for each one of them.
Sadly, I fear there are many opportunities we can miss in the daily busyness that tries to waylay us.
With God’s help, may we make a difference and share God’s Love with that neighbor.
May we be the best friend that we Never dreamed we were, to someone who desperately needs one.
More importantly, may we introduce them to the Perfect Best Friend of All, Jesus, Who will help them to never be lonely again.
Truly, we can all be thankful for HIM and for the blessing of opportunities that He gives us to reach out to others
in His Name of Love.