A Hug For a Stranger

Yesterday, I thought that I had left my sunglasses at Piatti restaurant. My mother in law and I had gone there for lunch before we had an absolutely fabulous spa day at the Woodhouse. When it was time to head home, some 3 hours later, I could not find my sunglasses anywhere. I tore everything apart looking for them. I am talking total dump out of my purse kind of looking.

So, I went back to Piatti’s and asked them about my sunglasses, they went on the search. I kind of stepped to the side, by the bar and I noticed a woman sitting in the corner, wiping some tears from her face. She looked sad and I could tell that she was having a hard time keeping it all together.

Part of me thought, “I just need to mind my own business.” However, I had a stronger tugging telling me to talk to her.

So I asked if she was alright. She looked up at me, surprised, and said, “Yeah, I am ok. Just having a rough day today. Do I not look ok?” I told her that I thought that she looked sad. She said, “Yes.”

I looked at her in the eye and I asked her if she needed a hug. Surprised once again, she hesitated and then said, “YES!! Badly.”

And so I did. I hugged a stranger. It was a good hug as I could feel with every bit of me that she needed some encouragement. She hugged me back and started crying, but when the hug stopped, she had a big smile on her face.

“I needed that!” she said. Then she went on to tell me that she was here closing out her parents’ estate, as they both had died recently. She had gotten all of the stuff out of the house and she was just figuring out what she needed to do next. She said that she knew that it was just all “stuff” but the finality of it all made her so very sad. She was grateful for our hug.

Just then, the hostess came back with some bad news for me – no sunglasses to be found. I was okay with it though, I’ll just buy another pair, I thought.

So the lady and I walked out together and we were parked 2 cars away from each other. She had a smile on her face and she told me that my energy brought her great peace and she was grateful for my friendship, albeit if only for that brief moment.

She waved and smiled as she pulled out of the parking lot. My heart was warm and it was right then and there that I realized what God had done. He put me there right when I was supposed to be. His perfect timing. He gave me the courage to embrace a complete stranger without apprehension.

I am glad that I listened to Him. I was there to help her and to give her comfort. It made me cry. Thank you, Jesus. I am glad I listened.

This morning, I found my sunglasses right in the pocket of my purse. I knew I looked there multiple times yesterday. I had to laugh. Okay God. Okay.

You never know when you can make a difference in someone’s life. There are so many different things that could have happened. I could have ignored her out of fear of being turned down or thinking I need to be minding my own business. I just kept on feeling such a strong emotion and the pulling of may heart…and I knew that it was the Holy Spirit.

So the next time, you have a compelling need to talk to or to even hug someone, you should follow that feeling…and do it. Even if it is a complete stranger.

If you are ever wondering what God can do for you – THROUGH YOU – the answer is, anything He wants.  He talks to us all of the time, we all just have to learn to listen – and act.

Jen

Check out my Podcast on Amazon, Apple, and Soundcloud – Jen’s 10 G’s