There
was a woman who was in my life for less than 5 minutes. She said no more
than 8 words, she never told me her name and she remains faceless in my mind to
this very day, but she profoundly impacted me in a way that has shaped who I am
today.
This
powerful experience happened when I was in college. I was pretty full of myself and fueled by grandiose plans for a prestigious future. One day during lunch I carried my food tray
to a table that a cafeteria worker was wiping down. I felt sorry for this woman as she bent over
the table at such a menial task, so I decided to brighten her day.
As
I said, I barely remember what she looked like; I can only remember that her
face was really weathered and framed by the tight curled coiffure of a “wash &
set”. The deep lines around her eyes revealed too many years of hard work. She wore an unfashionable blue work smock,
and white orthopedic shoes. (Hard work
and no fashion…, I didn’t think anyone should be so cursed!)
I
sat down, smiled and complimented how well she did her job. Without a pause, or indication that she sensed
my pity, she graciously responded, “Everything I do, I do for the Lord.” I think she may have removed a track from her
smock pocket, placed it down on my tray before she smiled and moved off to
another table, but honestly I was too stunned to even notice or reply. I sat there watching her make her way to the
next table with my mouth ajar, stunned at such a regal response. It was truly beautiful and I was speechless. You
can ask anyone who knows me and you will find that I am seldom rendered
speechless!
At
that time in my life I had never thought that everything or even any little thing
I did, could be for the
Lord. My mind
turned over this incomprehensible thought a dozen times before I internalized
the truth. It didn’t matter if I were
wiping tables or running a fortune 500 business, as long as I gave Him the
glory, there was no difference in His eyes.
Her
message and powerful witness was a gift that changed the path of my life. It gave me confidence as a young woman in the
workplace, my sanity as a mother and, to this day, no excuses. I wish I knew who my cafeteria lady was so
that I could thank her, but God knows and I have confidence that He’ll re-unite
us in heaven where I won’t notice what she’s wearing, but rather I’ll notice the beauty that I overlooked all
those years ago.
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