Could My Failure Mean Another’s Success?

Part I

Have you ever been asked to do something – pick up milk?  Plan a get together?  Make a dental appointment for your spouse?  Pray for someone?  You had every intention to do what you said you would do, right?  But then, the request scampers from your mind like a bunny scampers under a bush.  When you are confronted by the person who had asked you, you have to utter your lame excuse, “I’m sorry.  I forgot.”  You didn’t intentionally forget, but….

However, have you ever intentionally asked the Lord to give you an opportunity to talk with someone about the gospel?  I did.

Last week, I had asked the Lord for boldness to share the gospel with someone that day.  I was intentional in wanting to do this.

Early that evening, my husband and I went for a walk.  My request of the Lord kept mulling around in my mind.  A woman, sitting on her front porch, waved at us, so we stopped, introduced ourselves, and chatted a bit.  Her young daughter, who had been sitting near her, walked over to the driveway and plopped down with a book.  No opportunity opened up to talk about the Lord, so after a bit, we wished her a good evening and walked on our way past the little girl.

I felt a nudge to talk to the girl, but I kept walking.  I should go back. For sure,  I’ll stop on our way back.  But, as we passed her house on our way home, the little girl and her mom were gone.  I felt like a complete failure.  Why didn’t you talk to her when you had the chance?  I wondered could my failure mean another’s success?

Could My Failure Mean Another's SuccessI imagined how the conversation with the young girl might have gone had it happened.  “Hi. Do you like to read books?” I ask.   “Uh-huh,” she would say.   “Me too.  My name is Rita.  What’s your name?”   “Amanda.” “That’s a very pretty name.  How old are you?”   “I’m 6.”  She flashes an adorable smile.   “May I sit with you and tell you a true story?”   “Okay,” she says, with an emphatic nod.

“A long time ago—”
“How long?”
“About 2000 years ago.”
“That’s a long time.”
“Hm-hum.” I nod.  “A baby boy was born.  But this was no ordinary baby.  This baby was so special, angels had to come from heaven to tell shepherds the news!”
“What are shepherds?”
“Shepherds are men who take care of sheep like your mom takes care of you.”
“I like puppies better.”
“I think I would like a puppy for a pet better than a sheep too, but this story has sheep.”
“That’s okay,” she concedes.
“The shepherds were very frightened when the angels appeared in the sky and talked to them.”
“Why was the baby special?”
“Because He is God’s only Son.  Do you know about God?”
“Sorta.”
“I’ll tell you about God.”
“Don’t forget about the baby.”
“I won’t forget.”  I smile, and she smiles back.

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To be continued on my July 15 blog post.