Hopelessly Devoted…
Photo by Aneta Pawlik on Unsplash
This past Monday, we celebrated a big birthday milestone for my sweet husband, Lem.
I had tried to plan him a party of some sort, but he refused. The social butterfly that he is, this was surprising!
However, we do have some dinner plans made with friends that will suffice and fill his social butterfly cup. :)
He called me from work Monday, on his birthday, and said he wanted to go try a restaurant in downtown Atlanta that evening. He had checked and was able to secure a reservation.
Thrilled to have a night out and away from the kitchen, I gleefully said, “YESSS!!!!”
We arrived at the restaurant a bit early, and sat down on a couch as we waited to be seated.
A few minutes later a beautiful elderly lady walked through the door with her walker, smiling and happy.
She told the host her name and her reservation time, then came and sat right beside me and Lem on the couch.
I smiled and asked her if she had been to this particular restaurant before.
She looked down pensively, then said…
“No, this will be my first time. My late husband wanted to take me here for our wedding anniversary, but he passed away recently. Today is our anniversary, so I wanted to honor his wish to bring me here. I brought a picture of him and will set it on the table as I enjoy dinner. “
Not expecting such a heartfelt response, I immediately tried to hold back tears.
Lem looked at me, knowing my eyes were about to be a waterfall and I would not be able to talk due to the lump in my throat, he resumed talking to the sweet lady.
I was thankful for the small pause, then quickly I jumped back into the conversation.
She told us all about her late husband, who was a doctor, and shared a bit of their story.
In our conversation, she proudly informed us that she was 87 years old.
I almost fell to the floor.
Surely, I misheard her.
She smiled and said it again…”Yes, 87!”
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I was fascinated to say the least by our new friend, Mrs. Shirley.
Eventually, the host came over and told us our table was ready and we said our goodbyes to Mrs. Shirley.
At dinner, she was a big part of our conversation that night.
I was just in awe of her devotion to her late husband. How intentional she was with honoring him. She had left a huge mark on my heart.
I began to think about my life at the age of 87…Lord willing I live that long.
What will I be devoted to?
What will I want to make sure to tell people about?
What will be the most important thing to me?
As I read through the book of Romans, I am once again in awe of Paul.
He was fierce in his devotion to spreading the Gospel of Jesus.
He was bold and courageous and was not ashamed to tell all he knew about Jesus.
In fact Romans 1:16 says…
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16
Honestly, I think we back away from spreading the Gospel due to fear of rejection, or fear of being a Jesus freak.
We don’t want to step on toes or “offend” anyone.
Why are we so afraid to talk about Jesus to people in public?
I am asking myself this question.
Why is it so uncomfortable?
Paul states in Galatians 1:10…
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
As I think back to Shirley, our new friend, I want to have her same passion and fervor and devotion!
I want to be as bold and outspoken as she was…but I want it to be about Jesus!
Psalm 71 has been a theme of sorts to my heart lately. Desperately, I want to live out these verses that I recite daily…
As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:14-18
Friend, we have opportunities every single day!
We can tell people how old we are getting, how depressed we are, how broke we are, how miserable we are…
OR…
We can live out these verses from Psalm 71!
We can speak about Jesus to all we see! We do not have to be ashamed or afraid…
God will take care of the outcome. We need not worry!
Our job is to speak…to tell…to encourage…to tell our stories.
Just like Mrs. Shirley shared her story of love and devotion to her husband, we can share our stories with friends and strangers alike.
The world has never needed Salvation and Jesus more…
“for such a time as this…” Esther 4:14
thank you Mrs. Shirley,
jill
