Angel At Target
Last week, my wife, Liz called me on her way from Target and without saying "hello," she exclaimed, "I just met an angel at Target!"
Apparently, while shopping, she met this lady at the girls' clothing department. She was kind, gracious and authentic. She made eye contact, and her smile was genuine. Her hand shake with firm and full, felt almost like a hug.
Through their conversation, she disclosed she was raising a special needs son and helping her husband through a battle with cancer.
She was also teacher by profession and worked in the Bronx public school system in New York City. Even though some of her students were raised under challenging circumstances, she made it her goal to love every child as her own. She stated her secret has always been not to ask questions as to why a child behaved the way they did. Or question which parent is right and who was wrong. By avoiding these questions, she gave herself an unlimited bandwidth to love her students regardless of their behavior or home situation.
Then Liz wondered what kept her so strong and centered? (Keep in mind she is a forty something year old, all-Connecticut, all-New England woman.) Her response without hesitation was her faith in Christ.
She described herself as a "nontraditional Christian" who didn't attend any church but held on strongly to the Word of God and prayer.
Even beyond her words, this woman carried with her a certain warmth and grace which made an impression on every one she met.
And here is the fascinating parting of the story. Despite all the challenges she was facing she saw herself as the launching pad of God’s love. She considered herself as the dwelling place of God’s love. She saw the people around her as temples of God who were deserving of honor and respect. She didn't ask many questions but made it her sole obligation in life to extend the love of God to everyone she met.
She is a woman who agreed with apostle Paul when he writes
"Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body" (Phil 1:20)
Yes, that Christ will be exalted in her body!
This morning, God wants us to be angels at Target, Walmart or any department store we find ourselves. God wants us to be a ray of light in our homes, with our spouses and children. God wants us to recognize that our bodies are His Temple, and our lives are His pulpit. With this, we understand that the best sermons will not be preached on a Sunday morning, but everyday in the most unlikely places our lives are preaching the Gospel.
Today may Christ be magnified in your body! Regardless of the challenges you are facing in life, may God grant you the grace and resilience you need to shine in the lives of the people you encounter. And irrespective of the church you attend or not, you are still a candidate of God's grace in this moment.
God richly bless you and make His favor abound in your life!
Samuel Antwi-Boasiako, MD
Grace: Re-Defined!
The Grace Movement
(Join TGM every Friday night online for teachings and prayer)
