One of my favorite treats is to take my mother out to lunch. Once after we parked at a restaurant, we joined a long line waiting outside. My mother proceeded to strike up a conversation with the woman in front of us. We discussed the weather (it was hot), how hungry we were, and how we were working on being patient while waiting to be seated. Then the woman mentioned that she did not live in Atlanta but was from another state. As my mom kept asking questions, the woman continued to talk, eventually pouring out her heart to us. She said that her teenage son had heart surgery four weeks ago at the children’s hospital nearby. She had not left his side, and he was not doing well. On that particular day, she had decided that she could no longer stand hospital food. She had to leave and get a decent meal. She mentioned that this surgery was her son’s fourth operation. It was really their last hope.
I watched as my mother asked the right questions and said the right words, allowing this woman to express and release her emotions. At this point, because the woman was in tears, my mother asked if we could pray for her son. We formed a circle and held hands. Then my mother prayed for the woman’s son to be healed. We prayed for the doctors and nurses caring for her son and for the woman to have the strength to continue on her journey. As we were praying, the woman broke down crying, and my mother gave her a hug. Just as we finished praying, we heard the doors open to the restaurant. The woman thanked my mom and said that she clearly was meant to meet her that day and that God was at work.
In that experience, I watched my mother serve a complete stranger. She took the time to invest in this stranger and put her own needs aside. My mom could have been looking at her phone, or she could have cut off the conversation. Instead, my mother was not selfish. She was a complete servant of the Lord. Her heart was open as she served the needs of this other mother who was going through a very difficult time.
We all should look for those unexpected moments where we can serve others and become a true servant, especially toward those we do not even know.