This neighbor complimented my husband because he respected him. He took pride in his yard, and by commending our efforts he showed he held us in high regard.
On a late summer evening several months before, he’d shared with my husband how he was going through a difficult time. A season of hardship had come unexpectedly, and he confided in Chris because he trusted him. After Chris shared this with me, I realized how God was using their friendship for something greater than compliments on each other’s yards.
He was shaping eternity in words spoken between neighbors. In confidence shared between friends.
In one of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, he states,
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NIV
Every interaction we have with others can either leave them with the aroma of Christ or with a bitter taste in their mouth.
We have the choice. When Chris ministered to our neighbor during his time of need, he illustrated the words Paul penned all those years ago. He didn’t have to preach a sermon or be acknowledged.
He simply loved. And that was enough.
Friend, I don’t know what you’re going through today. You may have a pile of laundry that seems unconquerable or a teething toddler who won’t be consoled. You may long to see evidence that your work is making an impact.
Can I extend an invitation to you? Can I step into your world? Trust me, I know what it’s like to feel that longing. Here’s what we can do together:
At the end of the day, simply ask yourself, “Did I love? Did I do all this because of love?”
If this answer is “yes,” rest well, dear sister. He is working through you in ways you can’t even see yet. But one day, we will. One day, we will know in full.
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A version of this post originally appeared at abbymcdonald.org, published with permission.
