It Pays To Be Gray!
There are definitely advantages to being a gray haired old lady. Everyone is so kind!
Last week’s excursion was to our grandson’s state track meet. We had to board a bus to shuttle from a parking lot to the arena where the state championships were being played.
Bless my heart! I swear the first step into the bus was ten feet off the ground!
Well, maybe not that much, but it felt like it. I handed my cane to the driver and my bags to Ronald. I grabbed the handrails on both sides and managed to raise my leg high enough to make the initial step. Our granddaughter gave me the extra boost I needed to finish getting in the bus.
Getting off the bus backward is the safest way for me and again, the family stepped in to help. I retrieved my cane and followed Ronald to the bleachers.
The family headed further into the bleachers and up several more steps. Ronald and I navigated two short flights of steps and settled into the closest benches available. We got seats in the shade. Hurray!
Several hours later and after having not moved from our place for all that time, I was stiff and had trouble standing up on the first try. A man behind asked if I needed help. Ronald said yes. His wife grabbed me by the waist and gave me the extra impetus I needed to get up.
The kindness had begun.
As I navigated stepping heel to toe on the narrow bleacher walkway, a hand reached out to steady me. As I passed that person, the next one held out a hand, and the next, and the next. As I reached the stairs, a man got up from his seat and held my hand to make sure I was steady all the way up another flight of stairs to reach the exit ramp. As each one helped, of course I said thank you. What they don’t know is I also prayed a special blessing on each one and have been doing so ever since.
Proverbs 41:10 ESV says, ‘Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.’ May it be so for all those who helped me.
Getting on and off the bus ended up with hands reaching out to help. I got up and down easily and safely due to the kindness of perfect strangers whose strength and balance exceeded my own. Because I am clumsy at the best of times, or shall I say all the time, I am in awe how people reached out to me. Could they tell I was a normally klutzy person or did they feel sorry for me because of my age?
What I hope was they could feel my sincere appreciation. What I pray is they will be especially blessed in every way for their kindness. What I hope is that despite my own wobbles, I may help someone along the way to make their way safely through life.
But one of the ways I want to help others is to find their way through life with the peace of God and assurance of an eternal destination in heaven.
The funny thing about my experience was the interaction I had with several as I verbally blessed them and found other believers in the Christian Way. We were bound by the strong hands that held mine, but our spirits were one in the Father. Does that make sense to you? I felt the Father’s love and care in each touch.
One of the neatest verses I know comes from Isaiah 41:10 and tells of God holding my hand. Can you imagine it? ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Think on that!
Blessings
Kara Beth
