I can go days, sometimes months without writing, just absorbing details of everyday life to write down for another day. Then there are days, like today, when I feel I cannot type quick enough.
I want to share something that has been on my heart for awhile now, but was really driven home today. . . . I need to remember to look past me. What do I mean by that? Not just see my needs, my wants, my problems, but look past myself. As you know, I am a bit of a story teller, and I normally have a story that helps me understand something I feel God is trying to teach me, so here it goes. . . . .
I was waiting patiently in the restroom waiting for my son to finish up. It was just me in there. A woman came in to wash her hands. She started washing her neck as well. I made small talk with her because those of you who know me know I talk to everyone. She started to talk about why she was washing her neck. She had just come from a throat ultra sound. She has throat cancer, . .again. She also found out she might loose her last vocal cord meaning she could potentially loose her voice.
Let that sink in for a moment. No voice. Finding a whole other way to communicate. How would you handle that?
She stated she is just trying to stop crying so she could go back to work. I swear I thought I could hear my own heart crack at her story. And yet it wasn't just a story, this was her reality. I asked her if I could hug her and she said yes. I asked if I could pray for her and she said yes. I said a quick prayer for peace and for her to have a beautiful day feeling loved. I let her go and she continued to talk some more. Her thoughts, and fears if this potential diagnoses, and I listened. I encouraged her in taking time for herself only when there was a long pause. But mostly I listened. I looked past me, and what I saw was someone hurting that needed to talk. I didn't care if I would be late to my own appointment. It didn't matter in that moment because I needed to look past me. After about 20 minutes she gave me a hug goodbye and left. I said I would keep her in my prayers and thoughts.
Why is this important? Why do I feel compelled to share this story? Because what would happen if we all looked past us a little more often? Here I was for my sons ear infection appt while this woman may never be able to tell her children she loves them again. How small our problems seem when we look past ourselves. When we take the blinder off that make us just see our needs, our wants, our desires. And more than that, looking outside ourselves and just listening to someone. Just listen. No advice, sometimes not even a word of encouragement is needed. Just listen. It's a hurting word out there. We need to be the light God created us to be so we can shine for Him. If we can lighten someone's load isn't it worth it? So lets look past ourselves more often. Take off the blinders, and be a light in the dark word.
Mathew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Blessing my friends, and I pray God helps you shine your light for Him. Much love and many prayers as always, Devonne Ramer
I want to share something that has been on my heart for awhile now, but was really driven home today. . . . I need to remember to look past me. What do I mean by that? Not just see my needs, my wants, my problems, but look past myself. As you know, I am a bit of a story teller, and I normally have a story that helps me understand something I feel God is trying to teach me, so here it goes. . . . .
I was waiting patiently in the restroom waiting for my son to finish up. It was just me in there. A woman came in to wash her hands. She started washing her neck as well. I made small talk with her because those of you who know me know I talk to everyone. She started to talk about why she was washing her neck. She had just come from a throat ultra sound. She has throat cancer, . .again. She also found out she might loose her last vocal cord meaning she could potentially loose her voice.
Let that sink in for a moment. No voice. Finding a whole other way to communicate. How would you handle that?
She stated she is just trying to stop crying so she could go back to work. I swear I thought I could hear my own heart crack at her story. And yet it wasn't just a story, this was her reality. I asked her if I could hug her and she said yes. I asked if I could pray for her and she said yes. I said a quick prayer for peace and for her to have a beautiful day feeling loved. I let her go and she continued to talk some more. Her thoughts, and fears if this potential diagnoses, and I listened. I encouraged her in taking time for herself only when there was a long pause. But mostly I listened. I looked past me, and what I saw was someone hurting that needed to talk. I didn't care if I would be late to my own appointment. It didn't matter in that moment because I needed to look past me. After about 20 minutes she gave me a hug goodbye and left. I said I would keep her in my prayers and thoughts.
Why is this important? Why do I feel compelled to share this story? Because what would happen if we all looked past us a little more often? Here I was for my sons ear infection appt while this woman may never be able to tell her children she loves them again. How small our problems seem when we look past ourselves. When we take the blinder off that make us just see our needs, our wants, our desires. And more than that, looking outside ourselves and just listening to someone. Just listen. No advice, sometimes not even a word of encouragement is needed. Just listen. It's a hurting word out there. We need to be the light God created us to be so we can shine for Him. If we can lighten someone's load isn't it worth it? So lets look past ourselves more often. Take off the blinders, and be a light in the dark word.
Mathew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Blessing my friends, and I pray God helps you shine your light for Him. Much love and many prayers as always, Devonne Ramer
