Wondrous Love

Something happened at work the other day which I didn’t understand until much later. Now I can hardly stop smiling over it all.

Dan comes into my work all the time. He’s nearly 70, gruff, but usually in a good mood and razzes us girls at the front counter. Dan is a tall guy and fairly big, and everyone calls out “Dan Smith!” when he walks into my Work. He is well-liked.

For the longest time when he came in, I thought he didn’t like me, so I didn’t talk with him at all. Finally I realized he just likes to pick on me a little, to see me smile. So now I give as much as I take. When he came in the other day and needed my help, he said he could have had this done at Wal-Mart for half the price. I told him that they weren’t as nice as us at Wal-Mart. He said, “oh this is YOUR version of nice…” and I said, “Well, at least we’re more HELPFUL than Wal-Mart.” Just a bit of good-natured give and take.

Dan went to the back for prescriptions, and talked with some of the girls back there. He came up to me and said, “Jayleigh, you’re a born-again Christian!?” It took me a moment to understand his question. I don’t believe I have ever been asked that at my work, and frankly, I didn’t have the vaguest clue if Dan was a Christian or not so I wasn’t understanding why he was asking. I almost asked him why he wanted to know, but I didn’t care why.

In a clear voice and looking him in the eyes and smiling, I said, “Yes, Dan. I am.” Dan said, “That’s GOOD news, Jayleigh. I am happy to know that.” I told him that I, too, am happy to know it! And I went about my day until a few hours later when I was talking with co-worker Joan.

I told her of the conversation and asked if she had told Dan about my hubby being a pastor. She said that she hadn’t. I talked with some of the girls in the back and nobody said anything to Dan about me at all. So then I began to wonder, and I think I know what happened:

Dan was asking if I was saved, and I believe if I was not saved, he would have witnessed to me. I am still getting goosebumps over this, because Dan showed me the love of Jesus by asking if I knew Him. Dan took a step out in faith and made sure of my eternal destiny.

I am floored, and at the same time ashamed of myself for not doing the same things. Sure I put in my time. I do the work, I build relationships, I am supportive, and I give the glory to God alone. But rarely have I ever had the umph to be so proactive about telling others of My Jesus and His love.

I’ll have to work on that, please help me God.