Telling Your Story
These events are true to the best of my knowledge. No names have been changed to protect anyone.
This week, I find myself looking with pride at our local FFA chapter and the members who reached out with kindness and joy to a lonely stranger.
Last week, the chapter attended National FFA Convention. When more than 66,000 FFA members, advisors and guests gather in one town, a lot of things happen outside of the convention hall.
For one thing, those 66,000 people must eat. Careerline Tech Center chapter, our local chapter, chose to eat at Cracker Barrel on Wednesday night. The two buses traveling together got separated, so one bus arrived well before the other. The students were mostly seated together, with a group of four young men seated in the middle of the non-FFA customers. Jacob and Trey noticed a gentleman sitting alone with his meal. Something stirred them (can you say Holy Spirit?) to sit down and talk with the man. His name was Bill, 74 years old, widower, and only one living child left in the world that lived far away. He was literally alone. Bill's social life consisted of church on Sunday, and twice weekly meals at Cracker Barrel. He was a regular there and the employees knew him.
Not only did Jacob and Trey find themselves chatting with a stranger, they offered to pray with the man. (Cue the advisor coming after his tardy students to strongly encourage them to get on the bus or get left behind when he finds them praying with a stranger. Just back away, humbly and slowly.)
Eventually on their way out the door, Trey paid for Bill's meal, and added a pie to go. When Bill went to pay for his meal and found the tab already covered, he burst into tears. Word had spread through the entire staff, and several came to witness it. (The manager later contacted the advisor to share Bill's reaction.)
Not only are the staff talking about a pair of praying FFA members from Michigan, the boys shared the story on the bus with Van Buren Tech Center. (Not all the kids on that vehicle share the same attitude about faith, prayer and the Holy Spirit.) Someone suggests passing the hat to leave a gift card for more dinners for Bill. The hat comes back with $400 from 30 kids and chaperones! Bill is in for quite a surprise.
It takes a wee bit of courage to follow the nudge in your heart (Holy Spirit) telling you to go sit down and talk to a stranger in a restaurant and then pray with him. It was something both young men had never done before and weren't in the habit of doing. But their simple act multiplied and spread like wildfire to the employees at Cracker Barrel, customers around the table, a busload of FFA members, and a community back home who followed their story on social media.
Hearing how the Holy Spirit moved through Trey and Jacob through a small act is pure joy. Hearing how the action multiplied to impact so many people is another object lesson on how, where and when God chooses to work.
Bev Berens is a mom to 4-H and FFA members in Michigan. Do you have a story to share? Email her at uphillfarm494@yahoo.com.