“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” – Proverbs 31:20 (NIV)
Jasmine worked at a local pharmacy as a cashier. A senior in high school, she lived with a single mom and her younger brothers. The part-time job she worked helped to keep food on the table, but every resource was precious to the family, including gas.
When a rough snowstorm left most of the residents in her tiny town stranded indoors, Jasmine still shoveled her way out. She left extra early so she could go slow and take plenty of time to get to work.
Once she was there, a customer called the store frantic. She had tried to get her heart medication yesterday, but the pharmacy hadn’t been able to fill the prescription because they were out of stock. The woman needed her medicine, but she was elderly and terrified to drive in the snow.
When Jasmine overheard the pharmacist explaining the situation to a co-worker, she volunteered to take it to her. The pharmacist gathered the older woman’s medication and handed it off to Jasmine.
She kept a careful eye on the gas tank as she drove, whispering a prayer as she did. Once she arrived, she knocked on the door and gave the elderly woman her medicine. The woman laughed and thanked her.
It’s easy to get caught up in your to-do list or your goals that you forget to take the time to serve. But sometimes, showing love means detouring from your normal routine to bless someone else.
God, let me live with hands wide open, so I can freely share the resources You’ve blessed me with. Show me, someone, I can bless this week, even if it means a quick detour or it’s not in my job description. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
