Love Letter to Two Strangers
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might guess I’d write about warm fuzzy feelings for those nearest and dearest. Well, you’d be half right …
By Stefanie Thomas | Twitter: @stefanie_nicole
I consider myself to be a fairly observant person (I like to think I would make a good detective), but I find it’s all too easy to go through my day without really seeing the people I cross paths with. I mean, I see them, but I don’t often pay attention to them. I see the man in the car beside me, and though we have something in common (we’re stopped at the same red light), I don’t give much thought to who he is, where he’s going, what kind of day he’s having. It’s not that I don’t care about the man in the car beside me, it’s just that I’m usually too wrapped up in my own thoughts to really consider him.
The Woman
One morning a few years ago, on my drive to work, I noticed a woman walking slowly down the street. To say she was inching her way along the sidewalk wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Her legs were bowed under the weight of her body. Having seen several loved ones struggle with “bad knees,” I guessed that this woman was living with similar pain. My heart went out to her and I prayed for God to bring comfort and healing in her body. As I put my care and attention on this woman – a total stranger – I was surprised to feel my eyes welling up with tears. Over the following weeks, I’d often see her in the early mornings, lumbering along that same stretch of road. I imagined she, too, was on her way to work. She’d round the corner and wait to be fetched by a bus. I began to look for this woman as I approached that intersection, praying for her, whether I saw her or not.
On days when I felt a bit blah or worried if I’d make it to work on time, seeing this woman snapped me right out of it. Focusing on her helped me put things into perspective. I’m not sure if my prayers were answered, but I do know without a doubt that praying for this stranger fed my heart and spirit. Eventually I found a different route to work, but I still think of that woman from time to time. I hope she has been blessed, in ways big and small.
The Man
Several years ago, one of my sisters moved into a new apartment. A big family lived in the building and I often saw the father crossing the street to collect his kids from school. In fact, I rarely visited my sister without seeing this man coming or going. Over time, sightings of the man grew more frequent. He seemed to appear out of nowhere, in different parts of town and my sisters and I would nudge each other as if to say, “Look who it is!”
The man came to recognize us and would smile and wave hello. We ran into him (and mentioned him) so often we eventually dubbed him “The Man.” The stock response to seeing him became, “Of course!”
On my birthday that year, a situation led to my family dinner being cancelled at the last minute. It became a party of two–my younger sister and I–going for a chilly nighttime walk at the beach. I was disappointed that the birthday celebration had unraveled, but decided I would be grateful for the beauty of nature and the company of my kid sis.
And then it started to rain.
And then it started to pour.
Neither of us had an umbrella or a raincoat, so we took shelter under a big tree. As we stood there shivering, I could either have burst into laughter or burst into tears. And then, like a beacon in the night, wearing a white T-shirt and shorts (in January!), who do we see emerging from the darkness? You guessed it–The Man–out for a walk with his son.
Of course.
When I saw The Man, all of my disappointment washed away.
“It felt like a wink from God, telling me I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”
Not long after this, my sister and I were across town when we saw The Man heading our way. (Of course.) Our grins turned to surprised laughter when The Man spotted us and yelled, “I love you guys!” in his thick Eastern European accent before disappearing into a store.
Another God-wink.
Last summer, when my sister prepared to move out of her apartment, I realized that we probably wouldn’t see The Man anymore. It seemed ridiculous, but I was going to miss him. I’d grown accustomed to seeing his smile, to watching with a warm heart as he cared for his children. I never had a conversation with him, but The Man no longer felt like a stranger to me. His presence reminded me that we are all connected. Seeing him reminded me of God.
On moving day, I went to help my sister vacate her home. On one of my trips to the moving truck, I noticed The Man was also loading things into a big truck. I smiled at him and perhaps he could see the question in my expression, because he said to me: “We’re moving out today. We’re going to a new home across the bridge.”
Of course.
What perfect timing.
They would never know it, but these two strangers – this woman and this man – have touched my life. Yes, we live in a busy world and it would be impossible to pay attention to everyone we cross paths with. But once in a while, we might glance upon a stranger and pause for a beat. We might notice them, and wish for them to be loved and blessed.
Who knows, maybe we are the man who moves someone to remember God. Maybe we are the woman that someone else is praying for, right at this very moment.
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My dear SheLoves friends:
- Is there a stranger you hold up in your heart sometime?
- How does God remind you that you are in the right place at the right time?
- Any other comments?
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About Stefanie:
Stefanie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor living in Vancouver, BC. She feels blessed to work in a helping profession and is grateful that her work requires her to show up not in a power suit but with listening ears and a compassionate heart. Stefanie enjoys spending time with family and friends and has never met a kid or baby she doesn’t like. She is a noticer and appreciator of birds (chickadees, herons, eagles) and many a beach rock has come home in her pocket. Stefanie is a lover of music, tv and movies, and she is gifted at absorbing and retaining useless pop culture trivia. She loves walking, fresh air, the smell of dirt, and anything of the salt and vinegar persuasion. She can often be found puttering.
