Our typical approach as counselors is to talk with those coming to ask for food at the food bank to see how they are doing, what's going on in their lives, whether they have questions, and of course witness if permitted. I always make it a point to ask folks how their heart is and try to gauge their spiritual feelings.
Sometimes, I feel like God uses me.
This week, I got used, I think. I had the distinct privilege of counseling Ellen. It was her first time coming in. Ellen is in her mid-thirties but looks like mid-fifties. She is skinny and dried up with dark eyes, long black hair, and gives an appearance of having had a very hard life. After explaining the food bank and gathering certain personal information, I found the opportunity to ask Ellen about her spiritual life, things like whether she had a church home, whether she had ever been saved, what she believed.....you know, typical Christian-type questions.
All the while, I kept sensing she wanted to open up to me and eventually after coaxing her with loving remarks about how much Jesus loves her, she did. As tears began falling from her eyes, she explained to me that she was a "backslider"; that she had fallen back to bad ways after being saved a long time ago, and she was tired...oh so tired. I listened to her story and asked her if she wanted to make a deal. I told Ellen that if she liked, she could walk out the door today and know, without any shadow of doubt, that she was no longer a "backslider". I explained to her that it is the essence of Jesus to forgive and that all she had to do is ask. Bowing our heads together, I took her hands in mine and prayed forgiveness for Ellen as her tears continued to fall.
A little while later, as I noticed her leaving, I caught up with her and told her to hug me goodbye. She did and told me, "You know, I feel so much better about coming here today." I told her to not forget our deal and she said that she wouldn't.
Someone in your life needs forgiving.....find a way to do it.
