Why Was She Crying?

So everyone knows about my trip to Florida to visit my brother and sister-in-law and 3 of my beautiful nieces (the 4TH lives in Rhode Island!). I had an amazing time and was so grateful to get to spend the weekend with them.

On the way home – I had an interesting encounter. It took all of maybe 20 seconds… but it is still on my heart and I can’t get it out of my head.

When my sister, brother-in-law and I arrived at the airport it was about 1pm. We stood in the security line for what seemed like forever and we rushed to the tram to take us to our boarding gate. We were starving, so we stopped at the food court that was right next to our gate. We ate our lunches and then hustled over to our gate to find that it was as packed as the security line. Since there were no seats together, we decided to sit on the floor against the wall. And when we did a young woman caught my attention. She was sitting directly in front of us – and an open seat to her left – and she was bawling. Uncontrollably sobbing. She was wearing sunglasses and it was very obvious she was trying to not draw attention to herself. She was wiping the tears away on her hand and then wiping her hand on her jeans.

I couldn’t stop starring. I was just looking at her… trying to read her movements and when the sobbing would start and stop. I started to come up with scenarios in my head of what could be making this young woman so upset. Maybe a death in the family… maybe she’s moving from her loved ones… maybe a relationship just ended… I didn’t know – but the other obvious thing was – she was alone.

I sat against the wall… talking to myself and finally decided to get her some napkins. I got up and walked around the corner to one of the counters with straws and napkins and I grabbed a bunch. I walked back around the corner right over to her and gently laid them on her hand. Without looking at me, she took them and thanked me. I said “no problem”.

That was it. I didn’t sit in the empty seat beside her, I just walked away. All the while praying… “God… do you want me to engage her? Should I try and comfort her? Do I try and ask if there is something else I can do for her?”

I sat back down next to my sister who then asked… “Do you want to sit next to her? There is an empty seat…” I just shook my head and said no. I didn’t want to disturb her. Or, at least, that was my excuse.
I did pray for God to give me an opportunity if that’s what He wanted me to do. And deep down… I knew He did… but I just couldn’t. For whatever reason – I did not reach out to this young woman – who obviously needed something. Whether it be a friendly ear, or something to take her mind off her thoughts… or maybe… she just needed to know that someone cared.

That God cared.

On the flight home I kept hearing in my head… “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” I knew there was scripture that went something like that… but couldn’t remember how it went, exactly. I carry my Bible with me in my purse… and you would think I would have pulled it out to look it up. It was really weighing heavy on my heart. But I didn’t. The Bible never came out of my purse.

So sitting here tonight at work… it is still weighing on me… after having a week of ups and downs… struggling with my own sin and situations that are out of my control… God has just been reminding me… He is for me! He loves me and is right there beside me. And this woman came to my mind again… who was there for her? If she doesn’t know Jesus – then she has no clue that He is there for her too. There was an opportunity to share that with her, to let her know SHE mattered to someone.

So… tonight I asked, “God… why do you keep bringing this to my mind?” And He led me to look up the scripture…

It’s Matthew 25:31-40

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”

“Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

“Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

“The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Oh… there is much more to this passage… I suggest reading it all the way through. But I wanted to share this to see if it spurns someone else on – if ever you find yourself in the position to show Jesus’ love to someone… whether it’s someone you know or a stranger… it’s a purpose we all have. We were made to glorify Him and to share the good news with the world. And what better an opportunity to share the love, grace and mercy He shows you to someone who needs to know that someone is in their corner. Someone is for them… someone great and magnificent cares about them. He is the creator of heaven and earth… and all that is in it… and cares for little ol’ you… and what’s going on with you.

Think about the one moment in your past – where you felt the most alone. You prayed for God to let you know that you weren’t alone… that He was indeed with you… and someone showed up. A friend, a family member… a stranger… showing you love and compassion.

Kind of like the foot prints poem…

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you."

He uses each of us… everyday… and the best part is He will carry us through it. So I pray the next time I am faced with an opportunity to show His love to someone, that I realize that He will carry me through. After all, He’s in control of everything, I want to be a willing servant.

So, when faced with the opportunity to share His love with someone… will you?