Purpose

I haven't blogged in a while.... a really long while.  But right in the middle of a stressful Friday, something happened that was just too much to put into a simple facebook post.  So I had to share the story.

Today has been stressful, this week has been stressful.  When you work in a dealership your life is consumed by appraisals and finance, and customers that hammer you all day for THE BEST PRICE POSSIBLE.  Sometimes the day to day duties and routine customers just push you to the limit; this week has been one of those weeks..... So the next bit of my story was a welcomed surprise.

About 2:00 today one of the service writers brought a lady to my office who was shockingly enough needing an appraisal... she wanted to know what trade in value was, and suggested retail value was for her truck.  To my confession, immediately I was annoyed... here I was on a Friday, at 2:05 (about twenty minutes away from needing to pick up my kids) with ANOTHER appraisal request from nobody that wanted to buy a vehicle.... So, I wrote up the appraisal, jumped in the ladies truck, got the values and came back to my office, I sat down to give her the details and the most amazing thing happened.... 

As I began to go over the details of the truck with the lady, she told me that this was her husbands truck and he had just passed away.  They had been married 34 years.  He was a Marine, "strong and handsome" she said, as tears filled her eyes.  She let me know that he had cancer, and it had gotten to the point that he ended up passing away of a stroke right in front of her.  By the time she got him to the hospital, he had already become brain dead and didn't live but hours after that.  She told me that she held his hand as he took his last breath.  But this is the amazing part.....

The lady shared with me that God had perfectly orchestrated her whole life, and while she was a little bitter that her husband had left her here on this earth alone.  She knew that God had perfectly led her up to this point.  She shared with me that she had been married before, and God put her husband in front of her at just the perfect moment, God knew she needed him, and they shared 34 years together. She shared with me that when searching for Dr's to help her husband with treatment, he didn't respond well to chemo (she watched him suffer), God led her to the perfect Dr. in Atlanta.  She shared with me that when it was her husbands time to go that God allowed her son to be in town that weekend (he normally lives in TX), to be by her side.  All of these moments God knew just what she needed.  She shared with me that since her husband had passed though, she didn't know what her purpose was now that he was gone.... but even in that angst, she knew that God had left her here for a purpose...... 

Obviously, today her purpose was to witness to me! WOW. Just wow.  What Faith! Here I am whining having a down right pity party about a stressful day.  And this lady in all her sorrow, in having to pick up the pieces, and learn to be on her own, she sang praises! Praises to a good God.  I hugged her, she cried, and I cried, and I thanked her for sharing her story.  And I thanked her for loving the Lord.  And I thanked her and told her that today she had a purpose, today she shared God's goodness with another Christian woman.  Today she reminded me to look around and be thankful.  Today she reminded me to call my husband and tell him I love him.  Today she reminded me that I serve a good and gracious God, even in times of trouble.  

I was so wrapped up in this lady that I looked at my watch and it was 2:55, I told her I had to run pick up my kids, but thanked her again for visiting with me.   And let her know that if she ever needed anything to call me, even if it was just to talk again, because I enjoyed her company so much.....

I just cried and cried on my way to get the kids, how could I be so selfish....and once I got back to my office I couldn't help but think what have I missed out on with other people?  Are there days I'm so frustrated and in such a hurry I don't take the time to appreciate those around me?  How many have I missed the opportunity to share God's goodness with..... 
God truly puts people in our path for a purpose.  Everyone is fighting a battle.  Most days A LOT bigger than the one I am fighting.  LOVE those around you, LOVE your neighbor, LOVE your family, give THANKS to the ONE providing.... slow down..... life is precious, God is good, sometimes we just need to be reminded.