REFLECTIONS

Work of God

Sherri crossed the store in front of me as I entered the front door. The her hobbled walk and the way she held her left arm crooked close to her chest made it clear that she had once suffered a serious injury or a debilitating stroke. But I gave no further notice and went on in search of the merchandise I had come for. Absorbed in my mission, I was unaware of her presence beside me until she asked with slightly slurred speech if she could help me find something. Most likely I declined her assistance, but she continued.

“On Fathers’ Day 1997 an aneurism ruptured in my brain,” she described. “I was given no more than a 5% chance of survival, and was told I would never walk again or bear a child. Two years later I gave birth to my son, and here I am walking about this store helping people.” And there she stood before me with as pleasant a smile as she could muster exclaiming the miracle God performed in her life to me, a perfect stranger.

Sherri experienced a dreadful life-changing event in her life. But it gave her a compelling story to tell and a platform for glorifying God. The event impaired her physical abilities for the rest of her life, but Sherri has a miracle to share with everyone she meets. And she does so with great delight.

Her story is a reminder of Jesus and the man born blind. When the disciples questioned why the man was born without the ability to see, Jesus explained, “…this happened that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” And it makes me wonder if God is not at work in each of our lives to provide a platform for us to glorify him.

Some of us are surrounded by love, family, material things, or other blessings that should make it simple for us to display God in our lives. Others, like Sherri and the blind man, face debilitating setbacks that could make life difficult and diminish hope. But whether the circumstance is one of blessing or hardship, it provides a platform to display the work of God in our lives.

Jesus gave sight to the blind man and he was inspired to share his story of hope, “I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)  And Sherri is quick to share her story too.

She gives glory to God each time she shares it. Through her story she offers hope to others who have suffered strokes or related setbacks. She founded Stroke Support of Texas, a non-profit organization that provides resources to stroke survivors and their families. What began with a would-be tragedy in Sherri’s life now sends a message of hope instead. And it happened so that the work of God might be displayed in her life.

 You are the light of the world,

Richard+

www.reflectingthesavior.org

Click here for Printer Friendly Version