“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are
God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5
Guidance
I have found myself praying this prayer quite often in the past six months. “Teach me, guide me,
Lord.” It is safe to say that in February 2019 my life was forever changed. I finally discovered that
who I was, was not who God made me to be. I had gotten lost in the fast-paced world that we all live
in. I got caught up in the rush from one place to another that I was simply distracted from God. Not
that I didn’t believe in the Holy Spirit or that God died to wash away our sins because I did. It was
more the fact that I just was too distracted among things I thought was important. Thanks be to God
for His unending grace! Amen?
Since February I have been in this transition period of learning how to be the person God made me
to be. God has opened my eyes to so many things in the world that I never noticed before. For
example, the beggar on the corner, the weeping child because she has been displaced from her family
for circumstances out of her control, or the addict searching for his next fix. Just to name a few.
Do you know what we have in common with all of those people? The same God made us and loves us
unconditionally.
Since I have somewhat “slowed” down, I have been able to hear and feel the Holy Spirit. Going back
to that prayer…” teach me, guide me, use me, Lord”. I have often felt like I just don’t measure up.
Constantly thinking there is more I could do, but I just never know what to do.
Shifting your attention
Today was different. As I stood in the grocery line to check out, fumbling through my mind if I had
gotten everything I needed. I started feeling a bit frustrated and thinking to myself…”why is there
only one register open, what is taking so long, I have to get to the bank before they close, I need to
get my kids before daycare closes, and on and on and on. Just as I was getting ready to let out a
really loud exasperated sigh, I felt this stillness come over me. My mind stopped racing and asking
questions and it was almost as if I was in my own little check out bubble.
In that check out bubble was a mother and a son who was in front of me checking out. A woman who physically showed she was drained and not well and her son who maybe was 13. It was at that time my attention shifted from
all of my “problems” to theirs. As I watched the cashier ring a few items up and the woman pay for
them one at a time to ensure she didn’t run out of money. It was then that I felt the presence of the
Lord with me, assuring me that He had “guided me” into line behind these people. At that time, I
heard the cashier tell the woman, $15.57. As I watched the woman frantically searching her coin purse
and the young boy hang his head in embarrassment. The woman responded by handing the cashier
the couple pounds of hamburger meat that she had chosen to put back because she didn’t have the
money.
It’s the little things…
Then is when God “used” me. I quietly handed the meat back to the woman and her son and
told them I would take care of it. As the woman looked at me in disbelief and thanked me, I assured
her that she was blessing me more than she would ever know. As they walked away and the cashier
began to ring my groceries up, I caught the young boy glance back at me from the doorway and grin.
That is when God “taught” me.
Although I will more than likely never know their situation or need to know, God taught me at that
very moment it is the little things that make the biggest difference. He taught me that when I rely
solely on Him to direct me and lead me He will give me the tools I need to be the person He has created
me to be. He taught me to be thankful for things I take for granted. I thank God for quietening my
thoughts and for allowing me to recognize His call at that moment.
Turning your focus
Sisters, this world is so full of negativity, hurt, pain, and shame. I tried to put into words the blessing
that I received from that quick smile walking out the door, but mere words cannot describe it. Simply
amazing and powerful. It isn’t the amount of money you spend or the length of time you take to
make a difference. It is simply the fact that you chose to make a difference.
Turn your focus on God and what His needs are. What is He setting you out to do? What random act
of kindness can you do? Who’s life can you touch today?
” The King will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40
Saint Teresa of Avila said it best:”Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes in which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”
Go and be the hands and feet of Jesus where ever you are….Amen
Read also: Leave a little sparkle wherever you go
