Recently Patrick and I have had the oppurtunity to help a young woman.  Well I say young woman.  She is thirty-five years old, but she doesn't look a day over 21.  If you spend any time with her it won't take you long to realize that she has some disabilities.  She has had a difficult life. At one point in her life she was even homeless.  I try to encourage her as much as I can.  This young woman knows very little about me.  Our conversations deal mostly with her and her situations.  The past two and a half years has really been a struggle for me and Patrick.  We've had a lot of things come at us that we did not expect.   One day she called and wanted to know if I would take her to the library.  I arrived within ten minutes.  When she opened the truck door she looked right at me and asked me how I was doing with a concerned look on her face.  I said I was fine.  I really was not fine.  It had been a very trying week.  When we got to the library she was eager to get out but before she did she turned to me and said "Angie everything is going to be alright".  She shut the door and went in to study.  When this young woman first crossed our path I was a little nervous about helping her.  I had not spent a lot of time around someone with disabilities.  That kind of stuff made me feel uncomfortable.  I must admit I just didn't want to do it.    That is pretty much the way I approach most things not really wanting to do it and then once I get started I'm glad I did.  Helping her became a blessing.  My fears began to go away as I was able to look beyond myself.  Now she was encouraging me.  As I watched her go into the Library I sat there for several seconds pondering what she had said to me.  I was then reminded of the scripture in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2.  "Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it".   I don't know if she is an angel.  I do know that God used her that day to speak to me and to encourage me.  I see poverty everyday in the community and people that have disabilities.  I look at them differently now than I did before.  God loves them just like He loves me.  He has a purpose and plan for all of us.  I'm thankful for the lessons I've learned through helping this young woman.  I still have a very long way to go.

Just Five days.

I like what Anita Reinfroe said this morning, "Five days, just five days left, if I were six years old this would be awesome news". I had to laugh. This year I have really tried not to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle and busyness but rather I have tried to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas, Jesus Christ. A baby born so long ago. What a blessing. He was born and later died for us. Yes just five days, cherish each one as it leads up to His birthday.