The Mailbox

As I drove up into the parking lot at the post office, I noticed there were many cars, and many people were coming and going from their vehicles.

I parked, closed my windows, and went into the building.

As I collected my mail and exited the building, I heard a voice calling, “Ma’am, Ma’am, can you give me twenty cents?” I was surprised.

I kept thinking, Why would someone ask for just twenty cents? What can twenty cents buy these days? I turned around and saw a young man coming toward me. I told him I had to retrieve the money from my car, so he walked to the car with me. When we got to the car, I gave him a dollar instead of twenty cents. He was extremely happy and thankful and left the parking lot immediately.

As I drove off, I pondered and asked myself, What did that young man see in me that he bypassed everyone else and chose me to ask for twenty cents? Many people were going in and out of the post office. Was he embarrassed to ask the others, or was there something different about me that he chose me to ask for help? When I work in schools, I always pray that the students will see something different in me.

I pray that the beauty of Jesus will be seen in me.

I really want people to see the presence of Jesus through me —in my actions, walk, and especially the way I dress. If we say we are a child of God, there should be something different in every one of us.

My prayer is that we allow God to work in our lives so that the world may see Jesus in our day-to-day living.

Patricia Hines