Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
The crying lady
It was just a brief glimpse.
We were riding the skytrain from our house to our school. As we passed station after station, the doors of the train opened and closed in their usual fashion.
I was enjoying watching the scenery out the window. It was almost mesmerizing taking in the beautiful landscape.
But as we came to a train stop and the doors opened, I just happened to glance out the door and notice a woman.
The thing that caught my attention about this lady was that she had very light and long blonde hair. I haven't seen any light-haired people since being in this country, so she stood out.
This blonde lady was professionally dressed. She stood with her back to me, but she looked classy and as if she had it all going for her - just by her outward appearance and demeanor.
Then in a brief flash, the blonde lady turned her head and I saw that she was crying.
I could tell that she was trying to hold it all in and avoid drawing attention to herself, but the tears were streaming down her face. She was wiping the tears from her eyes with her fingertips.
Almost as quick as this sight unfolded before my eyes, the doors of the train closed and we were moving on...
Throughout the day, the image of this crying woman stayed with me. It almost haunted me in a way.
"Why was she crying?"
"Why was she hurting?"
"What was going on in her life to bring her to the point that she was standing alone at a train station pouring tears?"
These were some of the thoughts that kept ringing in my mind.
The truth is, there are a lot of people in this world that are hurting. For some like this crying lady, it's visible. You can see their pain.
For others, it's hidden below the surface and behind a mask of well-being.
Most are just desperate for a shoulder to cry on, to know that someone out there cares, and they seek some relief from the burden they bear.
As children of a great Dad, we carry around in us the hope and love that these hurting people need.
The crying lady was an inspiration to me that Dad wants us to be intentional about sharing His spirit with whomever we meet.
I am reminded of a favorite phrase that encourages us as brothers and sisters, like-minded children of Dad, that when we face difficulties our burdens are diminished because our burdens are shared but likewise when there are blessings our joy is doubled.
May you help to diminish the burdens of others and be doubled over with abundant joy!
We were riding the skytrain from our house to our school. As we passed station after station, the doors of the train opened and closed in their usual fashion.
I was enjoying watching the scenery out the window. It was almost mesmerizing taking in the beautiful landscape.
But as we came to a train stop and the doors opened, I just happened to glance out the door and notice a woman.
The thing that caught my attention about this lady was that she had very light and long blonde hair. I haven't seen any light-haired people since being in this country, so she stood out.
This blonde lady was professionally dressed. She stood with her back to me, but she looked classy and as if she had it all going for her - just by her outward appearance and demeanor.
Then in a brief flash, the blonde lady turned her head and I saw that she was crying.
I could tell that she was trying to hold it all in and avoid drawing attention to herself, but the tears were streaming down her face. She was wiping the tears from her eyes with her fingertips.
Almost as quick as this sight unfolded before my eyes, the doors of the train closed and we were moving on...
Throughout the day, the image of this crying woman stayed with me. It almost haunted me in a way.
"Why was she crying?"
"Why was she hurting?"
"What was going on in her life to bring her to the point that she was standing alone at a train station pouring tears?"
These were some of the thoughts that kept ringing in my mind.
The truth is, there are a lot of people in this world that are hurting. For some like this crying lady, it's visible. You can see their pain.
For others, it's hidden below the surface and behind a mask of well-being.
Most are just desperate for a shoulder to cry on, to know that someone out there cares, and they seek some relief from the burden they bear.
As children of a great Dad, we carry around in us the hope and love that these hurting people need.
The crying lady was an inspiration to me that Dad wants us to be intentional about sharing His spirit with whomever we meet.
I am reminded of a favorite phrase that encourages us as brothers and sisters, like-minded children of Dad, that when we face difficulties our burdens are diminished because our burdens are shared but likewise when there are blessings our joy is doubled.
May you help to diminish the burdens of others and be doubled over with abundant joy!
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