I’m still sharing some of the lessons I learned while away – some because I forgot and some because they are harder topics to write on. But alas, I must do what I’m asked to do.
As soon as we arrived at the airport in Mexico, we were told that we needed to make reservations for our trip back to the airport at the hotel. By the time I got there, I was just too tired, so I waited until the next day. I had a late flight, so the pick up time was scheduled for 4:05 to meet in the front area.
On the appointed day, we were done with all our activities and my phone needed to be charged. I was sent to a ‘hospitality’ room, just off the front of the hotel. As the pick up time started approaching, I started getting restless. I decided to leave the room, get my bags and wait in the front. No sooner had I gotten my bags, I heard my name being called. It was twenty minutes earlier than the scheduled time. I know had I not been there – they would have left me as there were already other passengers from other hotels in the van.
I couldn’t help but think of my conversation with my friend a few days earlier about the wise and foolish virgins. My friend asked why couldn’t they have shared their oil. In my opinion, they might have been able to share, but then their oil would have ran out much quicker – and they would not have been prepared either. They had already done the major preparation needed to wait for the bridegroom by having their oil tanks filled.
Friends, are you prepared?
As we were waiting for our flight, a woman had been crying the whole time. I felt prompted to go see if she was ok – but I didn’t.
As we got on the bus to take us to the plane, I ended up standing right next to her – she was still crying. This was many hours later as our flight had been delayed. I finally asked if she was ok. After a brief moment, she shared that her 21 year old niece had just died of a brain aneurysm and that’s why she was headed back before their scheduled time. I only had a few minutes with her, but in those moments, we cried and prayed together.
It left me wondering some more – would I be ready?
Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes we don’t consider ourselves worthy, but you love us anyway. Father, help us to be prepared. Help us to love on the broken hearted and the down trodden. Help us to see the needs of others, even as we may be going through our own frustrations.