10805 Main St. Huntley, IL 60142
     

Ministry Musing

By Donna Kelly

A Story From A Stephen Minister:

One cold December evening a pastor was leading a meeting of his congregation’s Stephen Ministers.  As they began to end their meeting with prayer, the door opened, and a street woman hobbled in wearing torn clothes and shoes with so many holes they were falling apart.

She apologized for interrupting and said she was looking for a church that could give her a pair of shoes.  The minister closest to her asked her what size she wore.  When she replied she wore an 8.5 the Stephen Minister bent down, untied one shoe and gave it to the woman to try on.  The woman did so and said it felt wonderful.  The minister then took off the other shoe and gave it to her as well.  The woman remarked that she couldn’t take this minister’s shoes but was assured by the minister that she had another pair at home.  The street woman took the shoes, thanked her and said, “God bless you”.

As the street woman left, the room was filled with stunned silence.  Another Stephen Minister asked the one who had given up her shoes how she was going to get home as it was cold and wet outside.  She replied that she had on thick socks and that she did have a pair of shoes to wear.  She then put on the tattered shoes the woman had left behind and proceeded to walk outside.  The shoes were badly worn and caused her to limp as she walked.  The other minister warned her to be careful and to not fall and get hurt.  As she hobbled out, she remarked, “Now I really know what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes”.

What else is there to say?  May God help us to be as generous and caring as this woman was to share God’s love and grace with our neighbors.

“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.” Matthew 25:35-36 (The Message)

 

Donna Kelly 

email Donna at: donna@sotpmail.com

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