It was early on a Sunday morning when I boarded my flight home to Dallas. I smiled at the woman who was already seated in my row but she didn’t return the smile. She was a very striking woman that I imagined to be in her sixties. I thought, “She either just wants to be left alone or she is afraid to fly.” As I watched her clutch the armrest for dear life I decided it was the latter. “Are you doing okay?” I asked. “I hate to fly,” she said. “We’ll be fine,” I tried to assure her, “God will not take his eyes off us for one moment.” She turned to look me full in the face. “Do you believe that?” she asked. “With every fiber of my being,” I said. “Now I don’t mean that bad things don’t ever happen to those who love him, but I will not go one moment before my time. I have a race to run.”
Tears began to form in her beautiful brown eyes and spill down her cheeks. “I’ve never thought of that before,” she said. “I struggle with suffering. I don’t understand why children die or plane crashes happen.” “I don’t either,” I admitted, “some people finish their race in eighty years, others in eighty days, only God knows why.”
We talked some more and as our flight was about to land I asked her what the purpose of her trip to California had been? “To meet you,” she said. “I have no doubt now, it was to meet you.”
What I saw again that day is how hungry people are to know that God loves them and is watching over them. If you know this outrageous love, don’t miss a moment to shine. Perhaps you are one of the hungry ones. May I just say this; God loves you, as you are right now-don’t waste another moment questioning that!
posted July 27, 2009 at 4:44 pm
thank you so much for sharing this story, Sheila! what an encouragement! I pray that I may be as bold and straightforward and genuine with those with whom I come into contact as you were with your seatmate
posted July 27, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Oh, Sheila, how beautiful. I’m so glad you were there to shine for that fellow traveler. Bless you…
posted July 27, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Yes, indeed, God loves each one of us. I pray that God would use me for His purpose without me hindering it. God has such an awesomeness about Him that you just aren’t able to find anywhere else. Praise the Lord.
posted July 28, 2009 at 7:18 am
Sheila,
Praise God for Him allowing you to be both humble and a light for Him. I really admire the way you spoke to this lady with boldness, yet with a kind and gentle heart. God is good. He knew that lady needed an answer to the “whys” of her circumtances. My aunt, her cousin, and my cousin met you in the elevator at one of the conferences. My dream to meet you didn’t come true and thus I was disappointed. But the funny thing is, I related must to Marilyn this year. I have been gradually peeling of the laywers of my onions and it has been a very hard process….but good to know now through that conference (and freedom comes with that knowledege) that I am loveable because He says so. On a side note I was talking to a lady at a church home party for a friend that is going away to Seminary in CA and she is 85 years old. Funny how when I take the time to listen to others and to God….that He actually will speak through others to get to my heart 3 words of wisdom from Bernie, my 85 year old new friend who just became a Christian in her 70′s. 1) Be still and know that I am God 2)Only believe and 3) Kick Satan out the door when He tells you lies or is distracting you. God gave me a listening ear after not being able to listen with my mood disorder, so I could hear His small, still, voice through Bernie. She also told me that I need to take “I WANT” out of my vocabulary. I am reading a book on motives and would appreicate prayers. My reactions and actions are sinful many times because of my lack of listening. Thanks anyone who reads this be encouraged. Be still. Only believe. Take out all “I wants” and kick Satan out the door when he trips you up by placing doubt, distractions in your ear!
Thanks, Your sweet Miss Sue
posted July 29, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Sheila, Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing with us! Love where you say “Now I don’t mean that bad things don’t ever happen to those who love him, but I will not go one moment before my time. I have a race to run.”
Thanks again!
posted September 8, 2009 at 4:07 pm
this story immediately brought tears to my eyes. it is so beautiful. yes, many people are hungry for the love of Jesus!!!
posted October 1, 2009 at 5:01 am
Thank you so much Sheila for sharing wonderful story. I like it very much. It touched my heart deeply. I can never forget your post.