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Saturday, October 17, 2009

Unexpected Love


Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
~ Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV)


Unexpected Love
#loveoneanother

This is a wee bit longer than the typical Saturday snippet, but I thought you'd enjoy it. Since it might be relevant, I'll preface this true story by mentioning that I wear my hair up, am usually neatly dressed in a skirt, and present a fairly conservative appearance.
~ ~ ~

While sitting alone in the library during my daughter's orchestra practice, I'm proofing my manuscript by reading it aloud from a paper copy. I picked a spot away from other people in a large commons area, and am using a super-soft voice.

An attractive girl with a short blond pony tail approaches me. She's an older teen with a nice appearance and soft look—no attitude showing here. She says, "Excuse me, I need to tell you something."

Curious for sure (and certain I wasn't loud enough to disturb anyone), I put my pen down to give her my attention. She says, "I'm madly in love with you." Her glance darts to someone outside my line of vision.

I'm always up for a good, harmless practical joke. What's more, I subscribe to the philosophy that we're the arms and mouth of Jesus to share His love, and that the more you share the more it's multiplied. So I stand up and say, "Awww. I love you too, Sweetheart." I go up to hug her. She neither laughs nor pulls away, but gives me back a nice, genuine hug.

I follow her eyes to some not-quite-so-clean-cut-looking teens. They're dying—laughing. The XXL one is lying on the carpet and he's rocking back and forth—ROTFL (rolling on the floor laughing).

We're the only ones in the area so I call to them, "I guess you picked the wrong person for a joke. Weren't expecting that, were you?"

The girl has already started toward them. She stops to turn and smile warmly, then says, "No, you were exactly the right one."

Her name is Maryanna. I expect I won't forget her.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to
BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from forthright.net

5 comments:

  1. Wow, God is full of surprises.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Odd.
    Years ago I was feeling down about myself as a young mom. I went to breakfast with the family and an elderly woman came right over to me and said, "I just want you to know I think you are a wonderful mom." I always felt it was a nudge from the Holy Spirit she responded to. At least I'd like to think so ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heehee Anne, I adore this story. I can just see your eyes twinkling with merriment, sharing the joke, but happy to share a little Christian love, too. In some ways you're like Anne of Green Gables--"scrapes", as she called them, befall you from time to time--and like her, you have a way of making them into delightful vignettes.

    Have a wonderful, blessed Saturday!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Denise, I hope you're feeling better. I haven't had any time to get to any blogs today.

    T. Anne, don't you absolutely love divine appointments like that?

    Gwen, do be sure and stop back for tomorrow's story. ;D

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOVE this story!! and you handled it beautifully, anne! without even a blink! :) (maryanna was probably especially grateful!) i'll have to watch for you in the libraries when i'm in MI...never know when one can use a good hug! :)

    ReplyDelete

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