It started many years ago when I was in my late 20s and it took me several years to understand it. If there was what at the time I thought to myself “someone that wasn’t quite right” out in public where I was they would seek me out or so it always seemed. I was not the only one who noticed it, so did my family, and friends. It still continues today, but now I know why. It was so disturbing to me when I was really young and had not gotten into the word good, or had a personal relationship with the Lord, as I do today, and always wanted to be even closer to Him. In order to know our purpose, or gifts from God, or even one of them we have to have a personal relationship with the Lord to be able to hear Him in whatever way He speaks to us.
Well, no matter where I went someone would get either in front of me in line, or behind me, or in the parking lot they would actually approach me. Remember those were not today’s time so you were not really in fear, just suspense to hear yet another story. Yes, I said story or issues. It happened time after time after time. It was things like, oh my husband has left me and I have three children in the car, can you please help me? I need a place to live we are homeless and I thought you might know where we could stay in this town? As a matter of fact, I did, I was a Section 8 housing manager, then a district manager for years. Or, they would simply share their hardship stories and I would listen. Then they would tell me thank you so much and say I feel much better after speaking with you, God bless you, Debbie, you always seem to know the right words that put my mind and heart at ease. I would get into my care and my children would say Mom what did that lady want, what did that man want until one day they stopped asking.
They knew it was another person who had somehow picked their Mother to pour out their troubles to, perfect strangers. They were young and would say, Mom, why is it everywhere we go people come up to you with their problems? It was a question I asked myself 100000 times, truly. At one point in my life I can remember thinking before leaving my home to do anything, Lord, please, don’t put all these people with issues in my way I have my own issues!! WOW, I can only imagine what God thought. But, it was never just strangers I would get a call from someone I hadn’t seen in 2 years saying Debbie, I am down and I need to talk to you. You have a way of calming me, soothing me, and it’s real. One day while talking to God and crying out to Him about one of my own hardships and crying out for help, I recall it well.
I said Father, where are all these people when I need them? What is going on Father, can you even hear me, my cries for help over and over again?
It was in those moments in 1993 that God spoke to me, He had indeed heard me. And He answered you have been given a life of many trials even at your young age. Your heart is pure to those who struggle that’s what I send them to you, Debbie. It’s a gift from me to you. Now just as I help you here, go and help the ones there that need a word of encouragement, a prayer, or sharing with them what I have done for you. So, those ” Someone that wasn’t quite right” people I spoke of earlier were sent to me by our Heavenly Father. They did not happen chance on me, they were all sent to me! That my dear friends is one of my God-given gifts, to help perfect strangers feel like they are not alone, let them know there is HOPE, and it will be ok. Today, I no longer ask God not to put these people in my way because I have my own issues, I do, but I feel so blessed to be able to help them in even the smallest way. What is one of your God-given gifts, please share. After all are we not to be leading each other home?
Love,
Debbie