An Oil Change and a Lesson

This week, while I was paying for my oil change with children in tow, the owner of the auto shop's phone rang.  I complemented his good old country ring tone, and he surprised me by telling me it was his brother, who has leukemia and just had a stem cell procedure done and is waiting in the hospital to see if it "took."  I thought, if this wasn't the Lord telling me to pray for this guy's brother, I don't know what is.  Why would a total stranger tell somebody that much detail?  So I asked, "Are you a believer?"

He physically backed off, raising his hands in a defensive measure, "Uh, I don't think we need to get into all that now."

"I was wondering if you didn't mind me praying for your brother. What's his name?"

"It's Bryan. I...I guess it's okay, if you really want to." He made it clear by his body language that he intended for me to pray after leaving his shop.

"Well, it can't hurt, right?"  I smiled, Autumn and I thanked him for the oil change, and we went to the car.

As usual, I opened Autumn's door and let her climb in and start buckling herself up while I put Olivia's car seat in the other side.  When I returned to Autumn's side to check her belt, she was praying, "...please make Bryan not hurt anymore...name of Jesus...Amen."

Once we were on the road again, I explained to Autumn that the man was reacting to us talking about God that way because it made him feel uncomfortable.  He probably felt uncomfortable because he had been hurt in the past, and had thought God meant to hurt him.  So we have to be extra careful not to let our own selfishness get in the way of God's love for others.  

Our words truly have the power to destroy or to build up.  So does every deed.