Last week I had to go see my Hematologist. I had my appointment and then had to go back down to the lab to get my flu shot. While I was sitting in the waiting room, there was a black lady sitting diagonally behind me. I could not see her face, but could hear her answer questions from a white man sitting across from her. I heard the man telling her that he had had cancer but had been in remission for the last two years, but now his wife of 36 years had it. He said they had been through hell. I heard him ask her if she was by herself and if she had a ride home. Her response was yes to both. He asked her what she was there for and she said to get an infusion. I don't know much, but I know from looking around the room that many of the people there are there because they have cancer. I honestly feel weird every time I go in there because I am just going in to have my blood checked for anemia. Anyway, he kept talking to her and at one point asked her if she was afraid. He said she looked scared. She ended up telling him that she had just found out that morning from her daughter that a friend of hers had passed away. He said some really sweet things to comfort her and talked about Jesus being able to get us through everything. She must have started crying because the next thing I know he is sitting next to her which was directly behind me. He was saying the sweetest things about Jesus and about us all being in this together. I found myself wiping away tears from my eyes right there in the middle of the waiting room. I just could not help it. It was such a beautiful thing. Here was a white man comforting a black woman and speaking the love of Jesus into her. He could have just sat there and kept to himself, but he saw someone in need and shared Jesus with her.
What it reminded me was that it never hurts to comfort someone you see hurting--even a stranger.
It reminded me that there are still some really good, kind people in this world.
It reminded me that we can use our own pain and suffering to be a blessing to someone else by just empathizing with them.
It reminded me that we are all in this together--black, white, Christian, non-Christian, etc.
It reminded me that anyone can spread Jesus' love anywhere even just sitting in a waiting room.
It reminded me that I have a choice as to how my light shines.
It reminded me that Jesus is alive. Yes he is. He is in this world and for that I am so thankful.
