Groceries

Or, more aptly, friends in need. I think a lot about friends of mine who were or are in need. Maybe because I have been and most likely will be in the future--a friend in need. Right now, I might not need money or food. I might just need a shoulder to cry on or a friend who understands my emotions. Someone who can just listen without judging.  Someone who doesn't say, "You got yourself into this mess; it's up to you to get yourself out."  Friends don't need that kind of friendship. Friends need someone to lean on, someone to walk alongside them, someone who does not judge or critique them. It's the perfect friend, really, the kind of friend that I want anyway, and the kind of friend that I want to be.

And so one day, without judging my friend, God used me to step up and help out. This particular friend went to the same church and Bible study that I did. There were about 30 or so of us in that class. We'd share needs and pray for each other. It was all very touchy-feely. We would talk, cry, pray, and look at what the Bible had to say about this or that. We would try hard not to judge, and we didn't talk about each other outside of that little room. We wanted to be good friends to one another — to listen, pray, and be real.

One friend in the class was in desperate need. Her phone and other utilities were being shut off one by one — there was no money to pay the bills. She was running out of food, and she needed us. We all prayed for her, and we cried with her. We could all pretty much relate one way or the other; we were all young moms just trying to get by. I think she felt better when she left that day just because she had unburdened herself.

However, God had another plan for me. As I was making out my own grocery list the next day, going through my coupons and budget, I felt an overwhelming need to get up right then and go to the store. I left my list on the counter, at home, and off I went. When I got to the grocery store, I began to put the oddest things into my cart. Things I had never bought before. Things I didn't like. But, they weren't for me, now were they?

By the time I had paid and got to my car, I knew.  I immediately drove to my friend's home, knocked on her door, and began unloading the many bags of groceries.  The problem, though, was that she wasn't home--only her husband and son were there.  Wow, the look of surprise on her husband's face. I didn't really know what to say to him--he didn't go to church, and I didn't even know his name. So, I dumbly said the first thing that came to my mind.

I told him — I'm a friend of your wife from church, and I was praying, and God told me to bring this food to you.  I was very nervous and most likely looked, sounded and acted like a nut, but when I glanced over at him--he was crying. He reached over, pulled their grocery wish list off the refrigerator door, and handed it to me. And there on that piece of paper was a list of all the crazy stuff that I had bought at the grocery store.

He came to church after that. He had seen a miracle that day. I am sure that they felt very blessed by God. I am sure they were thankful, and their lives were changed. However, my life changed too. God used me. I love that feeling. I want to be used by Him. I want to be used by the God that I love and serve with all my heart. I want to be that kind of friend. One who listens doesn't judge and always serves. I really, really want to.