Ministry. It needs to be part of our natural response to the world around us. We need to put others’ needs ahead of our own.

Wednesday is officially “ministry day” at our house. We pray, talk, and look for ways to minister to others. I try to go with the kids’ ideas. This has led to cookies for the neighbors, praying for friends, and flowers to the “library ladies”. It has also led to praying for “that little girl who was crying so hard in the store today.” Or “grandma Doris, because she’s all alone EVERY NIGHT!”
Today we went to the grocery store. My kids always help put the groceries in the bags, but it’s a little difficult with eight little arms in and out of the cart. Tim and Sarah’s new job was their own ministry idea. They go out and bring the carts from the outside of the store (on the curbed sidewalk) into the store while the boys and I do groceries. We went to do this today, but they came back in and said they couldn’t do it today because there had been an accident. I peeked out the window and saw where a car had hit the carts, and smashed the little fence in front of them.

It was a couple older ladies and I think it was a case of hitting the gas instead of the brake. I saw them there. One sitting behind the wheel. Another talking to the Save A Lot manager outside the car. They had their car doors open and there seemed to be no injuries. My heart just went out to them. How they must have that shaky feeling inside. I wondered if they knew Jesus. The kids and I loaded the groceries. I got the kids and the groceries in the van. We were parked right next to their car. I thought, “I should pray for them.” Then it was, “I need to pray for them.” Then it was, “go pray for them,” and that was the Holy Spirit’s prompting. So I told the kids I would be right back and I knelt next to the car by the driver and asked if they were alright. They said they were fine. I asked if they would mind if I prayed for them. “oh, no, not at all.” I asked if they knew Jesus. “oh, yes!” So I prayed, nice and loud so they could both hear me. They were very thankful, and then I left.

I talked to the kids about it on the way to our next stop. We talked about how those ladies might be feeling inside. We talked about how God helped them. They didn’t hit the concrete posts on either side of their car, and they weren’t injured. “and they didn’t hit the van,” Tim added.

It was at that moment that the reality that "they could’ve smashed my kids" hit me. It hadn’t even occurred to me until that moment. I just hadn’t thought of it at all. Why was that?

My Tim and Sarah are at that same spot every week bringing cart after cart inside the store to minister to the store employees… they could have been seriously injured…I thanked the Lord for protecting my family and for protecting my mind while I prayed for those ladies. I share this story because I can’t help but think, “How marvelous, how wonderful is my savior’s love for me!” and I am so grateful to walk in His grace every day.