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We should always have a friendly countenance and demeanor about ourselves
and remember that as children of the Lord, we should be quick to be kind,
compassionate and loving towards everyone we come into contact with. Many
times we see someone and know right away that they're having a hard time
and need to be encouraged. We should take the initiative to be their
“Angel” in that moment to lift them up, encourage them and show them how
much life has to offer. We must remember that it is in looking at our
blessings that we become encouraged and shown how privileged and favored
we truly are.
Many times people simply need to be shown and reminded that goodness still
exists in humanity and life no matter how difficult it may sometimes get
can be enjoyed if we focus on the right things. We need to see how
abundantly blessed we truly are and when we do, gratitude, thanksgiving
and a cheerful heart will fill our being. Be encouraged to share joy
whenever you see the opportunity and do all that you can to make a bad
situation a little bit better.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to always be the
catalyst to where smiles come forth. Be the encourager that you wish you
had when you were down and you will make an impact upon someone else's
life that will never be erased or forgotten.
INTIMATE STRANGERS
“People are in their own world and they don’t want you interrupting their
day. Folk on the subway don’t talk.” So I’d been given the rules ahead of
time. People did not want me trying to be friendly. Well that was going to
be difficult if not impossible.
We climbed on as the train (Subway) pulled in and there was only one seat.
My husband nodded at me to take it while he and our son stood. I scrunched
into the space beside a grey-haired woman and immediately she muttered in
a disgruntled manner, “Oh Yeah she had to sit here. Make me all
uncomfortable. I shoulda known.”
“I’m sorry” I told her. “Do you want me to move?”
With a huge sigh she muttered back, “I suppose you can stay.”
The words were okay, but the tone of her voice told me I was not welcome in
the seat.
“I can move if you would like me to. Really. I don’t mind, especially if
it is bothering you,” I told her in a gentle and sincere manner.
Another sigh, and she told me to stay. “No, it’s okay you can stay.”
So strangers don’t want me to talk on the subway. Okay, but she had started
this so I figured we could have a conversation and I felt challenged to
change her negative perspective. I asked her if she had ever been out to
Alberta. She waited all of two seconds, then responded, “No but we’ve been
through on the way to Vancouver.”
“I love it there,” I told her and went on to mention the great weather,
friendly people and beautiful plants. “Where are you from originally?” I
asked her.
Now here was a topic she wanted to talk about and soon I heard about her
life in the old country and the languages she learned. She talked until it
was time for her to get off, smiled and warmly bid me good-bye.
Hey this subway traveling is okay!
At a station the following day my husband and son went to buy tickets and
I stood watching people. The ticket taker caught me watching him and he
frowned. I smiled at him and he glared back at me. I kept on smiling and
would not turn away. He walked over to me with this stern look and
matching gait.
“Did you want to sing a song for me?” he asked.
Surprised, yet pleased he was talking to me, (but then maybe ticket takers
don’t count), I responded, “I would sing you a song, except my husband is
with me and it would make him feel uncomfortable. Truly, if I was alone, I
would sing you a song in a minute.” (And why not? music is uplifting!)
“Did you want me to sing you a song?” he asked, but he had a twinkle in
his eyes and there was a hint of a smile.
“Yes please, I’d like that.” I told him.
Then this most beautiful deep voice began singing, “Strangers In The
Night” and I gasped at the charisma of his voice, the timbre, character
and brilliance. His voice was exceptional and the song was a gift.
Soon husband and son came up alongside of us, but I never took my eyes off
the man with the magnificent voice. He continued with the song, and he had
my absolute attention. I hoped my dear husband would understand you can’t
just walk off in the middle of a gift.
When the man finished I felt so uplifted by his gift of song and sincerely
I told him, “your voice is exquisite and you need to share it.”
“I did. I was an opera singer.”
“Oh you must continue to share this lovely voice with others”, I told him.
“This I can no longer do,” he told me. “You see, I am ill and I can not be
counted on for bookings. I never know when the illness will flare up.”
Grateful I had been given a most special performance we said our good-byes.
By now, I know my stepson was wondering what else could possibly happen on
the subway. He lived in Toronto and gave us all the rules about subway
riding. Me, I was just a little hometown girl.
As we rode back on the subway again that night I found a seat beside a
couple. I turned to them and said, “I know I am not supposed to talk to
you.” “Why ever not?” the man asked.
“I am told people on the subway do not want anyone to speak with them,” I
explained, “but have you seen Crocodile Dundee?” I paused for them to
remember this movie character then grinning I stuck out my hand, “Hi my
name is Ellie and I am from Alberta.” With that, they began to laugh as
they took turns shaking my hand.
As we chatted like old friends, a gentleman two seats away turned around
to look at me. I could not read the look and puzzled over it.
The couple soon had to leave and they said they were sorry to end the
conversation, but their stop was coming up. They turned again as they left
smiling, waving, biding good-bye.
As soon as they were gone and the train pulled out again, the gentleman
who had turned to look at me earlier got up and came over. Apologizing he
said, “I could not help overhearing a bit of your conversation and...” We
were all soon in conversation.
He stepped off with us as we pulled into our station, speaking in an
animated fashion. I could tell he was thrilled for the opportunity of
having people to chat with on the ride.
As we stood out on the platform he looked at us and said, “I want to sing
a song for you.”
It was more of a question, and pleased to have two songs in one trip I
responded with, “great.”
Then, with a most pleasant voice, he began to sing, and I gasped at the
coincidence for his choice of songs was, “Strangers In The Night.”
By Ellie Braun-Haley
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus declares “Ye are the light of the world. A city that
is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are
in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus declares “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through
and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Romans 12:15-18 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that
weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of
all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with
all men.”
Proverbs 16:18-20 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than
to divide the spoil with the proud. He that handleth a matter wisely shall
find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem168.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE OUR SIDE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony52.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
