“By His grace, you have been saved through faith." ~ Ephesians
2:8
On a warm summer afternoon, Bobbi
sorted everything her family owned into two piles: essentials and things that
would go into storage. Into one pile
went pajamas, underwear, and socks for her boys. Their PlayStation, bicycles and beach toys
went by the front door for the storage unit, as did kitchen utensils, DVDs and bedroom
sets.
Bobbie picked up a photo album, briefly recalling happier
times: kids at a pizza place, Justin proudly holding a rainbow trout, a
Christmas tree with a mountain of gifts.
Those were scenes from their old life. Justin, after serving two tours in Iraq,
worked full-time at Lowes and she ran a home-based childcare business. In this tight economy, fewer hours (as in
Justin’s case) and lost jobs (like many of Bobbi’s customers) left them without
much cushion.
Four year old Mitchell looked up from his video game. “Mom, where are we going?” he asked.
Bobbi felt dizzy. How
could she explain that they’d been evicted from their apartment after the
landlord jacked up the rent? With just $695.36 in the bank, she’d booked a
room at the Quality Inn across town.
“We can’t live here anymore,” Bobbi told her curious son. “We’re going to a motel until we figure out
where to go next.” Though eyes that
could cry no more, she tried reassuring him.
“It’s going to be okay.”
As Justin stood alone in line at the convenience store, his
heart ached with humiliation; shame like he’d never felt, even in his darkest
moments as a soldier. From behind, a soft-spoken
man tapped him on the shoulder. “No need to turn around, but please accept this
money. Jesus loves you!”
Justin took the money without ever seeing the preacher
behind him. Back in the car, the pain
that Bobbi failed to disguise was now clearly visible on her face. His hope faded like a passing sigh.
On the way to the motel, they passed a church. The sign out front read: ‘Jesus loves you!’ They went to that church the very next Sunday,
and every Sunday after that.
Seven years later, a guest pastor spoke at the church. After the service, Justin approached him and
shared his story about how they’d come to faith in Christ. “Several years ago, my wife, our children and
I were destitute. We’d lost everything -
no hope, no money; an anxious future. When
I’d just about given up, a perfect stranger gave us some money.”
“As you spoke this morning, I knew from your accent that you
were that man!” “Just when I thought I’d
lost everything, God took a few more things from me – ego, anger, depression,
insecurity and fear of death. If Jesus
loves me – He adores you!”
Loving God, I’ve not always lived for You. I’ve sinned in ways I probably don't even
know yet are sins. Please forgive me! I want to live in Your grace by choosing this
minute to accept Jesus into my heart. Amen
