"Hey, I just want to say to you
that I'm very grateful that you've came into my
life at this point. For the very
FIRST time I feel like I'm actually being helped or
guided and I just wanna add that it
feels great knowing I have someone there for me who I can go to that really
does care and doesn't make me feel like I can't say certain things without being judged or looked down on. So thank you for being
there and
supporting and believing in me. I know
we only met this summer but I know you've been there more than my own family
and I feel like God answered my prayers from jail by sending you to me when I
asked him to help me stay strong. I truly believe that more every time we
talk I feel like "wow he actually made me feel better" sorry such a
long text but I wanted to tell you how much you really are helping me by just being there.
Can we
please meet up in a few days and finish the talk we were having??
Thanks for listening."
I want to share this text message that came to me yesterday.
A fellow I had spent 30 minutes visiting with earlier in the day sent it to me. He is a young man who has
struggled with addiction issues and has lived through a lot of trauma in his
childhood- he grew up in a very violent and unstable environment and has been
in and out of prison for much of his adult life. I have met with him perhaps
five times after he was referred to me earlier this year. What struck Lil and I
is that his text shows that it doesn't have to be a big thing we do in order to
be used by God to encourage someone. It isn't all that complicated to do and it
isn't necessary that we have a lot of skills or knowledge to be an effective
help in the lives of others. We can be used to bring hope to others as we take
time, and motivated by God's love, and make ourselves available to gracefully listen. People who need
someone to care about them surround us. Some of them are like the young man who
sent me this text message; others perhaps carry burdens that are not so evident.
I am sure many of you who will read this have been used in the lives of others
in the same way (feel free to leave examples in the comments section). I want
to encourage you to keep going, to remember how important it is to just give
people time and to be present with them as they share what is going on as they
try to survive life with its many twists and turns, ups and downs. For
others, I want to help you see that you have what it takes to be that person
who is an encourager, an influence for God and for good as you rub
shoulders with the people He brings into your life. If God brings them
into your life, He will also give you grace to show His love and be that encouraging
presence. Lets be all ears!
"Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.”
