While trying to be helpful to a total stranger, I inadvertently caused her a great deal of stress and inconvenience instead.  (Basically, because of me, her credit card disappeared.)  She responded by yelling, swearing, insulting me, and throwing things around as she hunted for it.  For quite some time.  (Another person there reported that this woman had come in angry; she was obviously in a hurry, stressed, and unhappy to begin with.)  I’m sure she caused a scene in the crowded store, but I was too fixated on searching for her card to look up and see how she was affecting anyone else.  (In case you’re wondering, someone else had accidentally picked it up, walked out with it, and apologetically returned it the next day.)

Later, I realized I had been so focused on fixing the problem I caused that I didn’t look to God for help, nor did I consider how I could love her. Yes, I had been polite and apologetic, even as her behavior was out of proportion to the situation.  But that night, once I had a chance to recover from the immediate stress, I realized that I could have prayed to find the credit card, and I could have prayed for her.  Switching gears from thinking about how it had affected me, I started to pray for her to experience God’s abundant blessing, grace, and mercy in whatever stressful situation she was already facing in addition to the additional aggravation I had caused her.

I have rarely actually had the opportunity to live out Jesus’s command to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me.  I honestly don’t have a lot of enemies and persecution in my life.  But this time, as I prayed for God to bless her (not that I see her as an enemy, but her behavior was attacking), I experienced God giving me a heart of love for her, for wanting His best for her.  This was such a small thing, but still, I am grateful for that tiny glimpse of more of Jesus.  I pray to see and respond more quickly, in real time, to such opportunities in the future.

 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven…  Matthew 5:44-45