The Ministering Woman
Today in church I witnessed an act of kindness that brought tears to eyes. My wife, Linda and I usually sit in a certain place in the back row. This where we were today. I take the aisle seat and she sits to my left. An elderly couple, Lloyd and Anita, usually sit just across the aisle from us with Lloyd in the first chair and Anita at his right. They didn’t show up today.
Shortly after the service started with worship time, a woman who I only vaguely recognized, sat in the chair just across from me in Lloyd’s usual spot. She was alone. As I sang along with the worship team, savoring the music and praising God, I glanced over at the woman who had her eyes closed and I assumed she was also enjoying the worship time.
A couple of songs later, I saw a woman get up from her seat next to her husband, walk over to the woman, sit down beside her and put her arm around the woman who began to cry. The second woman put both her arms around the crying woman and they softly exchanged words. The second woman held the hurting woman through the remainder of the worship and sat with her through communion time, the pastor’s sermon and until the service ended. At one point the second woman went to the side of the sanctuary, took a box of tissue from a table there and brought it back to the crying woman. At least once, I watched as the second woman with eyes closed and her lips moving apparently praying for the poor woman in distress.
This simple act of holding the woman and praying for her was one of the most touching acts of kindness I have ever witnessed causing my eyes to well up with tears. After the service, I saw both women talking out in the hallway and noticed the woman who had been ministered to, smiling and thanking the second woman.
A couple of things I took away from this beautiful moment includes the tremendous help the woman received from someone taking the time to show her that she is loved and cared about and how to lift someone, who who really needs it, up from a low point.
One thing that I already knew about the ministering woman is that she is compassionate and desires to help anyone who needs help. Today, her act of kindness caused these beliefs to hit home even harder. Why do I know so much about the ministering woman? Because she is my wife, Linda.
Shortly after the service started with worship time, a woman who I only vaguely recognized, sat in the chair just across from me in Lloyd’s usual spot. She was alone. As I sang along with the worship team, savoring the music and praising God, I glanced over at the woman who had her eyes closed and I assumed she was also enjoying the worship time.
A couple of songs later, I saw a woman get up from her seat next to her husband, walk over to the woman, sit down beside her and put her arm around the woman who began to cry. The second woman put both her arms around the crying woman and they softly exchanged words. The second woman held the hurting woman through the remainder of the worship and sat with her through communion time, the pastor’s sermon and until the service ended. At one point the second woman went to the side of the sanctuary, took a box of tissue from a table there and brought it back to the crying woman. At least once, I watched as the second woman with eyes closed and her lips moving apparently praying for the poor woman in distress.
This simple act of holding the woman and praying for her was one of the most touching acts of kindness I have ever witnessed causing my eyes to well up with tears. After the service, I saw both women talking out in the hallway and noticed the woman who had been ministered to, smiling and thanking the second woman.
A couple of things I took away from this beautiful moment includes the tremendous help the woman received from someone taking the time to show her that she is loved and cared about and how to lift someone, who who really needs it, up from a low point.
One thing that I already knew about the ministering woman is that she is compassionate and desires to help anyone who needs help. Today, her act of kindness caused these beliefs to hit home even harder. Why do I know so much about the ministering woman? Because she is my wife, Linda.
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