may I sit with you

As I sat on a bench, waiting for the rest of my family to join me, I was talking to God and thanking Him for who He is. Thanking Him for moments that I get to sit a while, take a breath, and be alert to all of the amazing creation around me. 

It was at that moment I noticed an elderly woman approaching me. Her push chair was having a difficult time making it along the sidewalk. Her small dog seemed to be encouraging as only pets can, “come on, you got this, we are so close!” 

When she finally arrived to the bench she nicely asked, “May I sit with you?”

“Oh course! Please have a seat.”

She rested her tired bones and quietly looked out and all around at creation with me. Her voice was tired but she managed to form the question, “Are you from here?” 

We went on to have a sweet conversation together and I learned all about my new friend in our “sit” together.

I left there with a smile on my face and kept playing our conversation over and her question, “Are you from here?” 

I thought I might freak her out a little if I went all New Testament on her and said, “I’m actually a foreigner or better yet, a stranger here. . . on Earth that is.” So, instead, I answered her question with a simple, “no, I live in Oklahoma.”

The Bible tells us that we are to consider this world like a visit, it’s not our long term place of residence. When we have that mindset, it helps to make things a little more bearable—like heartbreak, disappointment, suffering, sadness, and hardships.

We will never fully understand all things or why they happen. But knowing, as believers, there is hope for what is to come, it helps us to live each day here on Earth with a thankful heart.