When He whispers things out of nowhere.
from our lawyer’s office.
We were walking at a quick clip down one of the many hilled streets and out from a shop at our side came a beautiful young woman of a different ethnic background.
She was carrying two large deep red silk roses.
They were striking in the midst of a crazy-busy Kampala.
I saw them, and knowing my love for flowers, I smiled and motioning
exclaimed to her just how beautiful they were!
She smiled back a huge acknowledging smile.
I turned to Emma and called her attention to the flowers as the woman had fallen in the mass behind us, but the young woman saw and smiled back to Emmy as well.
I saw her glance over her shoulder to see what I was doing.
After giving the little one some food I hurried to catch up with Emma and Junior.
We came to a busy street we needed to cross but just as we stepped off the curb I turned over my shoulder to see the young woman with the big red roses hurrying back up
the hill to give a coin to the little treasure.
The Lord whispered, “You two have influenced her.”
We crossed the road and didn’t see the young woman again.
UNTIL we were about 20 minutes further into our journey….
a boda boda {motorcycle for carrying people here and there} zipped by….
and on the back was the young woman, who seeing us,
raised her red roses in the air with a smile as though to say,
“Friends, remember me! I am the one with the roses you love….”
Emma and I smiled and waved.
Her boda carried her far down the street quickly but before she was completely out of sight Emma said, “Mom! Do you see! She is turning back still watching us!’
It was then that He whispered,
“She has seen me in you…
remember her to Me…”
And we have been.
He never wastes and encounter….
and should we happen into her one day….
we will see if she would like to take coffee with us…..
Because He truly never, ever wastes even the briefest encounter….
love.
i can just imagine all of this there so perfectly.
and–do you find it interesting that she was carrying TWO beautiful roses. of all the numbers in the world–TWO. praying your TWO girls all the way home.
love you.
Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Love, Jesus
Lovely post! It gave me goose bumps. I will be praying for the young woman with the two red roses.
-Beth in Atlanta
Beautiful Linny! Was just out on my walk praying for you this morning and that encouraging things like this would happen to lift your spirits during all the ups and downs. Kiss Ruby Grace for us!:)
Your encounter has me in goosebumps. Our obedience to God can be so far-reaching! The smallest gesture of love can change the world.
God, use me today.
Linny,
I have been praying and I noticed that you took the picture of Ruby off of your line up and I wondered why, was a bit worried. I know that you cannot share your heart on this blog, but I would love to know how to pray for you better. If you have the time please email me at lauriekjernald@msn.com and let me know some prayer points that I can lift up. If you feel like I am just being too nosey, just tell me, I will understand.
praying from Sweden,
laurie
Linny-
I rarely comment, but I have followed you for several years and I believe this post spoke to me perhaps more than any other. Thank you for taking the time to pour out your experiences/feelings etc. God truly uses you in the most miraculous ways. I have been praying for you in your many adventures – especially praying now that God opens the doors to get these 2 precious ones home. My daughter was in GZ at the same time you were in 2009. {remember writing this? and Miss Margaret – if you are out there – your grandbaby little Miss Lia Kate is absolutely adorable (and Lia Kate can vouch for the lungs that Miss Jubilee has as she and her mommy and daddy got to hear the hissy fit from the other room.)}
Margaret
What a beautiful story. You write so well that I can picture the event. Thank you for reminding me that it's not just words but actions that speak to others. Hope you see her again, I'm sure she will see you first and remember that day. XXX
Oh, what a beautiful story, Linny. Such a great reminder for all of us that there are opportunities in everyone we meet….even briefly!
Bless you hearts this day..
I have no word but BEAUTIFUL!
so sweet.
This post took my breath away! God is SO good and you are listening to Him. You touched my heart today too.
Very Beautiful words! Touched me to the core and made me so thankful that God is in the mist of Uganda. Janet
That is so awesome – I love the way the Lord works. Love you both and praying for all of you like crazy.
A simply beautiful post…..
Miss. linny, Have you and sweet Emma been able to hear anything about John and Kisam ? The two brothers sucking on rocks? Janet
wow…that encounter has left a deep impact on my life. Can't wait to read this story to my kids!
Lovely story! Flowers in the midst of such dust, mess and poverty.
Very difficult to know what to do when you encounter street children. It sounds like I walk the same path to my office as you described.
The best organisations working with street children would advise not to give food or money to street children as it encourages them to stay on the street and away from the street children refuge(s) which are near to the city centre.. where they can get fed, medical needs met, educated and the chance to enter a programme where reunification and family based alternative care is possible – that's if they are real street children.
There is also an awful trend for 'guardians' to take children to the city centre and used children to beg for them – by giving them money and food we are encouraging the practice. In fact there is one child who is no more than three holding up his hands, a few minutes after money is placed in his hand someone from nearby comes and removes it and then pushes the childs hands up further… heartbreaking. The police know but the 'guardian' and child keep moving around.
…..but when you see these dear ones it is so hard to walk on by.
I would encourage you to visit Retrak if you have time while you are in Kampala, they are just up the road from shoprite in the city centre. They will advise on how to best support street children. I try and see if the kids I speak to know about and are willing to go to the retrak drop-in centre. Sometimes though I get chastised by the nearby guardians whos scheme I am disrupting. Very tricky,
It's the thing that breaks my heart the most in Kampala.
A 4 year old little girl on the street? REALLY??? What in the world . . . come Lord Jesus come. I have a 4 year old, and have had 3 before her who were once 4, and one behind her who will be 4 in a year. Can't imagine ANY of them on the streets at ANY time in their lives.
Bless the woman with the beautiful red roses – such a beautiful distraction and encounter.
Linny, I just had to comment on this post. I don't come to comment often but do read your posts when I can and am praying for your little one to be safely in your arms.
This post so blessed me today. We have been helping an elderly lady for over a year that is very closed to the things of the Lord so only in our actions have we been able to speak to her. She passed away this morning and I have been so sad and questioning just what this year with her has been all about.
He Never wastes the briefest encounter or any encounter for that matter….
Thank you=
bee blessed
mary
Love this Linny!
Thank you for the reminder!
Oh Linny,
How your posts make me cry! Thank you for being about His plans each and every moment. How I dream of bringing home another treasure-and your stories from Uganda make me yearn to go there.
I love this story. and am continuing to pray for you and your family too.
I love this!! This simplest acts can be profound. When we went to get our youngests Social Security Number at the office, the simple act of my husband giving up his seat for an older couple to sit together set off a series of random acts of kindness within the office and there was a palpable change in the atmosphere of this government office.
It doesn't take that much to sometimes remind others or ourselves of the humanity in them/us and we all benefit from that reminder. God bless. Continuing to pray for you all.
I always think that Linny. of course nothing so beautiful comes to my mind, but I always feel that those "unexpected meetings" or the "guess who I bumped into" moments were far more than just chance.
i love this. God uses everything-not a thing is wasted when it's offered in His name.
Bless you both as you labor to bring Miss R. home!
Thank you, Linny. I really needed these words today to show me how close our Father is to us. I'm crying my eyes out right now.
Thank you for listening to our Lord – for being right where you are now, as hard as it may be, cuz these little ones need to see Jesus! And oh, how the love of Abba Father is shining through you and Emmy! Hallelujah!