It is so true that, just when we might least expect it, an opportunity can present itself to say a gentle word in season that someone needs to hear.
A few weeks ago, my husband was waiting for our order at a local pizza shop on a Friday night. He noticed a man nearby sitting forward with his head in his hands.
‘Glad the week’s over, are you?’ my husband commented.
They went on to exchange a few pleasantries.
‘Tell me, how you cope with stress in your life?’ the man then asked, out of the blue.
‘Well, it helps me to know I’m doing what God wants me to do,’ my husband replied.
They chatted on for a while. It turned out the man was from Rumania and works in IT. And soon he discovered my husband is a retired minister.
‘My uncle was a sort of minister in a Pentecostal church back in Rumania—I used to go to church then,’ he admitted. ‘Tell me … how do you see the Holy Spirit manifesting himself today?’
Not quite the sort of question one expects to be asked in a pizza shop! Nevertheless, my husband happily responded. Then our pizza was ready and the man thanked him sincerely for their conversation. Only God knows what might ensue in his life as a result.
But this past week, it was my turn. As I waited to have an x-ray at the hospital, I glanced at the other people around me and decided to pray for them. I particularly noticed an elderly couple sitting nearby who seemed quite nervous. They got up several times, once returning with a form to fill out, which they seemed to have trouble doing. The wife tried to help her husband, speaking to him in a language I did not understand and several times reaching in her handbag to find this or that document. Eventually his name was called and off he went. I looked across at his wife and smiled. She smiled in return and then began talking.
‘I’m so worried!’ she told me, a perfect stranger, as she started to cry. ‘My husband … he not well. He got cancer.’
I reached over and held her hand, then moved to sit beside her. Out came her story of migrating to Australia from Italy in the fifties, starting work at fourteen, missing her homeland, marrying a man from her own village, having children. I listened—and my heart went out to her. Then my name was called and I had to leave her.
When my x-ray was over, however, I saw she was still waiting and went over to her.
‘I’m going to be praying for you,’ I told her. ‘I believe in God—God will look after you.’
‘I believe in God too,’ she whispered, as she clung to my hand and the tears began falling again. ‘Thank you so very much!’
In Col 4:6, Paul writes:
Let you conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
What a privilege to be able to take part in these two entirely unexpected conversations! I hope they were grace-filled enough. I hope these two needy ones sensed God’s love reaching out to them, bringing refreshment and comfort. That’s what it’s all about, don’t you think?
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
That was such an interesting read, I am a relatively new Christian getting used to it. I like reading and learning about God. I have found prayer so helpful and learn to preserve with it and it helps
I’m so glad you found the blog interesting and took the time to comment. And that’s so good you’re keen to grow and learn all you can as a new Christian, especially in the area of prayer. God bless you in your Christian journey!
Thank you
It’s amazing how the most meaningful conversations can take place in unexpected places and with complete strangers. Your post reminded me of how important is it to always be ready to speak and to remain open-hearted to others – even when going through your own trials. I suspect that each of these conversations planted some significant seeds and brought great comfort.
I hope and pray they did, Kerry. And I know you’re so good at such things. Thinking of and praying for you as you head to hospital.
Lovely post Jo-Anne. I am sure those words will be treasured and come back to again.
Thanks, Dale–I truly hope that will be the case for both people. It’s amazing how God has prompted me to pray for that lovely Italian lady since then. Also, I hope you are doing well–I’m sure I saw somewhere recently that you were not planning to do much writing in the near future, which I was sorry to hear. Still, I know for sure from my own journey that God has different things for us to do at different stage of our lives–so may God bless you, Dale, in whatever you sense you are being called to do next. Maybe we’ll meet one day!
Thank you Jo- Anne for sharing about those wonderful encounters, The Holy Spirit is indeed spreading good seeds. A few months ago, I spent almost a day in Hospital after having extreme pain most of the night, I don’t suffer Migraines but my head was pounding and I could not stop vomiting and I was also very stressed, they think I had a bug which seemed to be spreading throughout Queensland at the time.
Later as I was waiting to be picked up from the Hospital and feeling much better although very tired after not much sleep and with Doctors and Nurses asking many questions as they examined me. I started talking to a man who was also waiting for a lift, his name was Graham and he told me had just found out he had Cancer and 3 months before they had diagnosed his wife Anne with Cancer too. I could tell he was frightened but trying to be strong.
I shared with him about my friend Joy who lived after Doctors said she only had a few months left because her Cancer was so advanced, and that she was still alive after 3 years and how my suspected breast Cancer had disappeared too after I had prayed that I was ready to go to Heaven if that was what God wanted.
Graham said someone was praying for them where they use to live, I could tell that he was not a Christian at least not yet but that he was searching for answers, I reassured him that God tells us He does not afflict us willingly and that He Loves us all greatly and I also said I would pray for both of them too, by than our lifts had arrived but of course I have since prayed not just for their Cancer to be healed but that they may hear and understand all about God’s great Mercy and Grace in His free gift of Salvation in Christ Jesus.
What Satan had meant for evil God used for good, I never doubt God’s goodness and Love towards us because I believe what He tells us in the Bible and if needed I remind myself of the Scriptures below and others that give me this reassurance when I’m facing Trials and Temptations.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
And yes Jo – Anne in reference to the Scripture you shared, we must not loose our saltiness even if those we share with reject what we say or ignore it, showing their own lack not ours.
Christian Love in our Unity with Jesus – Anne
That’s a really sad but lovely story about the man you met at the hospital, Anne. Thanks for passing it on. He must have felt devastated but that’s wonderful you and others are praying for him. God bless.