I had the opportunity.
My wife and I were shopping for birthday presents for our daughter. (Now we have been going through a tough time financially. Some recent setbacks could have destroyed us. Yet, we are God's people, and we will not be stopped so easily.) We were drawn to the jewelry and some earrings. My wife picked up a pair and thought they may be a good fit for our daughter. At this same time, peering from the adjacent side of the counter was an older woman, probably seventy years old. She was on oxygen, her white hair conservatively done up as most older woman seem to prefer. To me she is the typical grandma. She could have been married for fifty years, buried her husband and have seen several grandchildren born and grown. My grandma is a woman like her, and I know many others just like her.
This woman, from across the counter, explained how those earrings were her absolute favorite. She said there were others by that brand in another section. Quite friendly, and looking for an opportunity to interact with anyone sharing a similar interest. She was shopping with what seemed to be her daughter, and after a quick exchange with us, went back to her own browsing. At this point, I thought nothing more of our interaction, and we went about browsing more jewelry. After a few minutes, my wife settled on a pair and we made our way over to checkout at the jewelry counter.
Once at the register, the older woman, whom had been admiring the jewelry still this whole time, asked if we picked the pair that she liked so much. We said no, and that we chose a different pair. The older woman then said how she loved the first pair that we picked up, and would love so much to have it, but she just couldn't afford it.
Now, this pair of earrings was only twenty dollars. How often do we overlook twenty dollars as just a menial amount? So often, I know I have. Yet, at this point we are recovering from a financial setback, and know all too well how every dollar counts, especially twenty dollars. Though, I thought to myself why doesn't this woman, at her age, buy what she wants? Why is she denying herself a twenty dollar pair of earrings that she longs for? To me, someone who has lived a long life, has reached an age where they should enjoy things, especially an inexpensive pair of earrings. Yet, I don't know her situation or what she may be or have been struggling with.
Thoughts continue in my mind. I would buy my grandma a cheap pair of earrings if she wanted them. If this was my elderly mother, I would make sure she had something pretty to wear. Then, my wife quietly says to me, "I wish we could buy them for her". There is was - validation. My wife felt the same way that I did. We were there, able to bless this woman, and both of us strongly felt this is what we should do. Now, all good things are of God, and a chance like this is definitely God.
It happened so quickly. I picked up the earrings as if checking them out one last time, and nonchalantly asked the older woman if these were the earring she was talking about. You know, like I wanted to make sure we were buying the right pair. The ones that had great local reviews. I purchased the pair and asked for a box and a gift receipt, just in case. I then went around the counter, and was stopped. I hesitated. I turned to my wife and told her I wanted to wait since the older woman was engaged with the sales associate and I didn't want to interrupt. My wife encouraged me to just go ahead and give the earrings to her. I did. I excused myself, and told the older that Jesus loves us, and He wants to make sure she has these. She stopped and just looked at me.
It was in her eyes. I've never seen this before. This sort of overwhelmed, overjoyed, cannot believe I'm loved look. Her eyes glassed over with tears and she just looked at me with amazement. She graciously accepted the gift and approached me as if for a hug. I couldn't resist, and just wrapped my arms around her. Jesus does love her, and I believe that He wanted us to help her see just how much she is loved. The girl behind the counter, said something to the accord of how sweet we were in doing this for the older woman.
It's not us. It's God. It's He that lives in us, that wants to work through us. We quickly left, as my wife teared up a bit, and that was it. I don't know what that older woman may have been dealing with. What her struggle might have been, or where she was with The Lord. I do know, that she felt loved right then. I do know that what we did was in the name of Jesus. She felt God's kind of love. That agape love. I was so glad to have been there for it.
