My Pappaw always reminded me of John Wayne, only better looking and quieter. I never heard Pappaw tell me he loved me or any of the grands, but we all knew he loved us very much. When he was diagnosed with a medical condition in which no medical doctor in our town wanted to touch, he was flown to Houston. He came out of surgery, but never recovered. After a month of being in Houston, it was decided to bring him to Shreveport, so we could take care of him.
Pappaw was in a hospital near my work, so every morning before work and at lunch, I’d go exercise his arms and legs, put lotion on his skin, chapstick on his lips, comb his hair, and I’d talk to him. Sometimes I threatened to paint his toe nails a brighter red color. Being a navy man from World War II had he been able to talk, I would not have made that threat.
People would come and go and visit with whatever family and friends were there. If you popped in, you would hear someone telling a story about Pappaw.
There was one nurse who my family just loved. When he entered the room, he always talked to Pappaw. I entered his room once, and this nurse was just talking away about the baseball game on TV. My Pappaw played minor league baseball back in the day.
Little did we know that during this very tiring and sad season, the nurse was watching and listening to our family and Pappaw’s friends. He was there when Pappaw drew his last breath. He was even at Pappaw’s funeral. You just never know who is watching you when you struggle or grieve.
In Acts 21, a prophet named Agabus showed Paul he would be bound at his hands and his feet by the Jews if he went to Jerusalem. Keep in mind, Agabus does not deliver any other facts. Does your mind automatically jump to the worst case scenario? Mine does.
What does Paul do? He goes to Jerusalem, later in chapter 21, we see Paul bound just as Agabus prophesied.
In Acts 23:11, “the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’.” There are so many plot twists to this story. You really should read it, but at one point, Paul insists on appealing to Caesar himself. In order to place this appeal, guess where Paul had to be shipped? ROME! We also find out Paul could have been released sooner if he had not requested an appeal to Caesar.
In the most difficult of circumstances, Paul was telling people about the Way, which was the early term for Christian faith. He told people on the ship. He told the governor. He told Pharisees and Saducees. He told heads of state. He told King Agrippa. Had Paul not insisted on being heard in Rome, he might not ever had access to the people to tell them the good news.
Paul wasn’t looking at his surroundings, struggling and fighting, fretting and worrying. He was looking at the people God had placed in his path with whom to share his faith.
The people you meet during the most difficult times in your life are there for a purpose. Sometimes the purpose is God has sent them to you to encourage you and mentor you through that situation. Sometimes the purpose is God has put you in what you might consider miserable place because He is bringing people to you. He wants you to tell them about Him.
In Acts 17:25-28 tells us He gives everyone life and breath and all things. He determines man’s appointed times and boundaries or where they live. He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out to find Him.
People that cross your path when you are struggling with a wayward child, going through bankruptcy, dealing with an unfaithful spouse, grieving the death of a child, working through the cancer journey, looking for a job – they are placed in your path for a purpose. Take the time to look up from your hurt, your pain, your grief, and ask God to show you who you can encourage who may be a few steps behind you.
After my Pappaw’s funeral, we received a letter from the nurse. It was then we discovered that he had been watching and listening. Because of what he heard and saw, he realized he had run from God for too long. He had returned to church and was taking his daughter with him. You just never know who’s watching.