Just the sweetest thing happened on my way out of church today. After some truth filled teaching and moving worship, I made my way out of the sanctuary and bumped into an older woman. Upon greeting her, she smiled gently and spoke the most stunning sentence, "My daughter wears her hair just like you and she's the weirdest little thing." This came from the mouth attached to the kindest eyes and delivered with rosy cheeks and genuine interest. She continued on to say that her daughter lived out of town, taught hoola hoop classes and yoga, beaming as she described her. She said I should look her up, that she and I would be fast friends. She then leaned in close and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
Ya'll! What a blessing this encounter was for so many reasons. One, been feeling called to step out and be different on account of my Jesus and this sweet lady made "weird" seem so good. Two, I got to see the heart behind the words. Often we can be so quick to take something at face value or even harsher, worse case scenario and jump into being offended. Oh how much connection and wisdom we miss when we listen to the words only and don't connect them to the heart that delivers them. And three, this woman encouraged me in such a personal and courageous way. While she just mentioned my hair, which honestly is in some kind of transition these past few weeks and is wild with a capital W, she spoke straight from the heart and didn't worry what I would think or what my reaction would be. She just leaned in, beamed and spoke love.
I feel so honored that God allowed something in me to remind this woman of a daughter who teaches hoola hoop classes, who wears her hair funky and is a "weird little thing". I'm so thankful I got to interact with her today, so thankful for the Holy Spirit that dwells in me that I got to see her heart first and her words second. This precious encounter has me heading into this week with a renewed spirit of "weirdness", of looking to the heart to better understand the words and a desire to be intentional about encouraging those around me in a personal way. I'm anticipating opportunities to lean in and give some cheek kisses.
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 8:43-45
