When on vacation, I tend to be the kind of guy who is the "leader" in a "Follow
the leader"-type parade. After all, I plan these trips to the minutest detail.
Shouldn't it be my place to lead? The only problem is that my followers tend to
often be forgetful of this fact!
As we flew from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas, we spent our time excitedly
discussing the Bahamian beaches. We covered it all: from the azure colour of the
ocean to the palm trees lining the shore, to the white tropical sand. So when we
arrived in Nassau, the first thing we did was go to the beach!
Or at least, that's what I did! Camera in my hand, I charged out onto the dock,
all the while talking excitedly about the beauty around me. After just a few
moments however, I realized that there was something very wrong. I looked around
to find that I was all by myself! No wonder my fellow beach enthusiasts were
giving me a strange look before turning quickly to look the other way!
But where were my "followers"?
It only took me a moment to locate them. They were up on the promenade, and my
wife was sitting on a stone wall under some kind of a canopy. What surprised me
the most was that she was talking to a local beach vendor! My wife is generally
wary of such people! But the surprises weren't finished yet. To my utter
astonishment, she was listening with interest as the local lady tried to
convince her to let her braid her hair! Imagine that!
I smiled to myself. She would never go for that!
Just as I walked up, she was finalizing the deal with the lady. My mouth hung
open in amazement, but there was nothing I could do, and two hours later her head
was tied up in over 60 tiny braids. She sure looked beautiful!
Why did she agree for a different hair style? Then the truth came out. When the nimble-fingered lady
first approached my wife, she perceived that here was someone who needed more
than the money for her services. She needed encouragement and direction, and my
wife took that two-hour opportunity to give it out. In the end, both my wife and
the merchant were transformed. My wife outwardly: she was now, officially, a "Bahama
Mama"; and the beach vender inwardly, as she made the promise to pursue God from
now on.
I really shouldn't have been surprised. This isn't the first time something
similar has happened. You see, my wife seems to have a unique gift of noticing
people around her who are in need, and then doing something about it. I remember
two years ago when I was again the "leader" in our famous "Follow the Leader"
game in Grand Teton National Park. Once again I discovered that I was talking
to myself, to the detriment of the other tourists around me. In fact, I'm sure I heard one
say: "He must have escaped from the loonie bin!"
When I finally succeeded in locating the remainder of my crew, I found my wife
with her arm around a 12 year-old boy who was in tears. Apparently he had lost
his family during his trek around the lake. Why hadn't I noticed the needs of
that poor kid? I'm sure glad my wife did, because as a result, this episode had
a happy ending.
The Bible reminds us that loving others the way Jesus loves them is a pleasing
offering to God: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and
live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Eph 5:1-2 NIV)
Do you love others the way Jesus does?
The more you take the time to discover Him in your life, the more you will love
those around you. It's inevitable! He IS love and since He lives in you, His
love exudes through all of your pores! "No one has ever seen God; but if we love
one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. " (1 John 4:12
NIV)
Oops! Once again I am talking to myself. Where did my wife go this time?
Wherever it is, I'm sure she is making a difference in someone else's life!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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