“How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give ’em.” – Shel Silverstein
(The soul needs comrades, confidantes, super-hero-prayer-warriors. The soul needs friendship in deep places and the safety of being fully known and fully loved. God uses people to visibly and physically do for us what His heart has done for us all along.)
There are certain people in life that are so quiet, you could miss the impact they are having on this world. On individual lives.
People that would rather die than draw attention. That will always choose behind-the-scenes over being on stage.
If they could wish for a super power, it would be invisibility.
They bristle when recognized and live to serve others.
Some of these silent heroes/heroines will drop everything to help a friend in need and will go to their knees for that same friend with the intensity and sincerity of a fearless prayer warrior.
Quietly, of course.
Meet my friend, Ruth.
She will hate that I am posting this today.
Sorry, sister, but it’s time to tell the Ruth. 🙂
I’ve known Ruth for the past couple of years. She recently retired, but you would never know it. She volunteers continually, prays constantly and runs to the aid of anyone who is hurting or needs a helping hand.
I should know. I’ve been her love recipient too many times to count.
She prefers one-on-one’s over large groups and will never be a fan of recognition or praise. She is probably the most humble person I know.
When Ruth comes over, you know that the conversation will easily flow to great depth. Yet, somehow, she manages to bring laughter along for the ride, and by the end you will feel lighter, encouraged and ready for whatever life brings next.
Maybe it’s because she soaks every meet-up with prayer prior, during and after.
A few weeks ago, when I was in the beginning stages of switching my business/ministry direction, Ruth came to see me. At the end of our time together we went out to my converted garage, the soon-to-be office/consult/ministry spot. At this point, all of my staging items had been removed, but no transformation had started yet.
As she walked through the door, she took off her shoes. She knew I would be ripping up the dingey carpet. She wasn’t afraid of making a mess. She was removing her shoes because she felt that God was about to use this room and she considered it “holy ground”. My ugly carpet was holy ground?
But she didn’t stop there. Without hesitation or explanation, she dropped to her knees on that awful carpet and prayed a blessing over this unfinished space. She asked for God’s protection of it and its use in women’s lives. She prayed it would be a place of healing and restoration for hurting souls. A place of peace and calmness. That its doors would be open to those who needed it and locked against any intruders of circumstance or misuse.
And then she prayed for me. She prayed for my soul what she prayed for this room. It was the most beautiful prayer I’d ever experienced. Not because she used flowery words or holy jargon, but because she prayed so deeply from her heart.
There is something about a friend who prays for you like that that makes you feel so safe. So loved. So humble. I hope my tears reflected my gratitude.
And if they didn’t, Ruth, I hope this post does. I love you more than carmel. 🙂
xoxoxo
J
– Do you have a precious friend like Ruth? Someone who, without fanfare, will pray for you so diligently?
– Are you a Ruth in someone’s life? Is there someone you can pray for that maybe no one else has?
Proverbs 17:17 – A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
James 5:16 – Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
