Unexpected Encouragement

It has been almost 35 years since Tim walked me home from our first date.  I remember clearly how fast he walked and I remember thinking “Wow, he must really want to get rid of me!”  I have since then learned to keep pace with him and our daily “fast walk” in the mornings has often brought comments from other walkers on the walkway on Lake Monroe.

One older lady comments almost daily about how fast we walk.  It is always fun in the morning to greet her and to hear her cheerful greeting.  We don’t know her name and we have never seen her, other than in the half-light of our early morning walks.  I don’t even think I would recognizer her if I saw her in another place, because I haven’t really ever really seen her close up, or in full daylight.

This morning started out like one of those typical mornings.  She was on the other side of the road from us and we heard her cheerful greeting, “Good Morning y’all.  Still keeping pace, huh?”  We called out, “Yep and Good Morning to you!”  However, unlike other mornings, this friend from afar yelled out, “I pray for you EVERY morning!”

I think that really took Tim and I by surprise!  We were being told by someone we barely knew that she was praying for us daily.  I found that such an unexpected encouragement.  I told Tim that I think it is women like that who will get the greatest reward in Heaven.  Her faithful prayers for others, including those she can’t even call by name, have such far reaching effects.  This morning her prayers gave me encouragement and strength to face the day.  The Lord has provided so many people like this lady in our lives.  So many faithfully pray and support us, allowing us to continue in this ministry and to be encouraged while doing so.  My prayer this AM is one of gratitude for this unexpected encouragement.