I had an amazing English teacher in Jr High named Mrs. Thomason.  She always had a warm and welcoming classroom, and every Friday she would tell us as we left “Have a good weekend, and go to Church on Sunday!” Her actions and words would scream “Christian” even though she really never proclaimed it.  A few weeks ago, I saw a post from her on Facebook that left a warmth in my heart and a thankfulness that I got to experience her wisdom as a child in the classroom, and now as an adult.

 “Everyone please pray for a young man named Colten. I was walking in Wal-Mart tonight when an elderly lady behind me began to sob. I put my arm around her and asked what was wrong. She said her grandson had been in a car accident this evening and had been airlifted to Oklahoma City and wasn’t expected to live. We went into the little cart area and I prayed for Colten. She asked if everyone I know would pray for him….what could I say? ….and I won’t break that promise…Don’t know his last name, but please pray for Colten… God knows all the details.”

What a woman! She was in tune to the needs of a complete stranger, dropped her plans, and took the woman aside and prayed for her! Now more than ever, I see in her a wonderful gift of sympathy and genuine concern for the welfare of others. I don’t think I would have had the courage to ask a complete stranger to pray with me. Sure, I say little prayers to myself quite a bit if I see someone in need, but never pulled a complete stranger aside to pray with them; wouldn’t they think I was a little crazy? A Bible thumper? Someone waaay too in touch with my spiritual side? Mrs. Thomason didn’t care. She saw a need, and took care of it immediately and became a light, and a comfort to the woman she had just met.

Something that we, as Christians, tend to forget is that we were not charged to just take care of our own. We are to take the Gospel to everyone, and not keep our faith from others who may not be believers(Mark 16:15). We are asked to shine our lights, just as a city on a hill in Matthew 5:14. Notice where the city lies: on a hill, not tucked away in the bottom of a valley. Please don’t tuck your faith away from others’ view. Please don’t save those pure and undefiled prayers to your Father only for your closest sisters in Christ. Share this faith, this amazing avenue of prayer with all persons made in the image of Him. Do not let insecurities get in the way of letting Him work through you; He is with you, and in Him, you can do anything (Philippians 3:16). God will shine through all of us, we just have to acknowledge the opportunities to let Him work in us. For the grieving woman, God gave her comfort through a short and sweet English teacher with understanding eyes. Mrs. Thomason became His arms of comfort, His words of wisdom, and His perfect peace. I urge all of you, plead with all of you, to look for moments such as this to let the love of Christ be revealed to those whom you do not know. Ask God to open your eyes and your heart to those who are in need of Him.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35-40

By Ashley Hudson
Ashley Hudson is a stay-at-home-mom with three children ages 9, 5, and 3.  She and her family worship at the 7^th and Beech Church of Christ in Durant, Oklahoma.   Her husband, Jake, is the Campus Minister for the Student Bible Center at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Be sure to check out her blog at www.hudsonfive.wordpress.com