Because One Woman Cared by Pam McCormick

I hurt. So, I went to several friends asking for encouragement. One said nothing. One said I had issues. One said I had a heart issue. One person, named Beth, hugged me with her words. She understood. She too had been wounded by others. She met my realness with a heart of compassion, not judgment. Not Scripture. Not prayer. Just met me where I was hurting and loved on me.

Beth reminded me of the Good Samaritan in the Bible who saw a need and didn’t try to fix it or to judge but chose to be compassionate to a wounded man’s need for help. I have visited her many times in the convenience store where she works. A lot of times, she cannot go to church on Sunday, but let me tell you, she is the church every day of the week there. I’m not saying she’s perfect, no one is, but she shows compassion and love to those who come into the store for beer, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.

When people walk into her place of work, young and old alike, she doesn’t judge them. She offers a hand up and loves others as Christ would love on them. Some people say they repeatedly return to the store because her kindness to them drew them back in. They felt like they could be received and talk to her about anything.

Once, while I was in the store, a teenager walked in, and Beth asked him, “Why aren’t you in school?” He answered, “Got caught smoking and got suspended.” I loved what she said to him. She said, “You need to stop doing that, so you can finish school.” She might have been the only one that cared about that boy, and he knew it. I saw his face light up.

My friend, Beth, is the epitome of what a Christian is and should be, thinking of herself less and others more. There have been long workdays, sometimes eleven hours, but she still acts like Jesus to a hurting world. Beth has been judged by others, so she loves others that the world had judged and seen as being unacceptable to walk into the doors of the church.

Today, I needed encouragement, and I told God I needed encouragement. I got on my hands and knees and cried out to God, “I just needed encouragement, not a prayer, not a list of Scriptures, not criticism, and she was the only one that cared enough to send me a hug.” I’ve read that you will know a Christian by their love. I have no doubt Beth knows Christ. I see Jesus in her every day.

We are in a war against the enemy. But this woman stopped what she was doing and cared enough about me to hug me with a sweet text. She is my Beth friend, and I’m thankful for this woman of God who, although hurt by others, stands in that store every day to treat others with love and me too.

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 NIV)

Beth does that every day. And she doesn’t need the walls of a church to shine for Jesus. She shines for Jesus in that convenience store. She may be the only Jesus they ever see. I’m glad she’s there. And I’m so glad she’s my friend, and I’m so glad she’s my little sister too.

Who is my neighbor, Lord? Am I treating them with love? The truth is, I do have a heart issue, but Beth didn’t look at my heart issue. She saw a woman who was hurting and loved on her. She cared enough to love me and hug me where I was at. God is still working on me. I’m nowhere close to where I need to be, but Jesus loves me, and He saw my hurt and didn’t judge me. He sent Beth.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry. From the waters lifted me, now safe am I. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me! (from Love Lifted Me by James Rowe–public domain)

God used one woman who cared, and I am better because she loved on me. I was lifted above my despair. I asked the Lord to bless her because she so blessed me, and I’m believing God for it too.

Thank you, Beth, for loving on me and caring about me. Because you did, my faith has been restored in our good God.

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Pam McCormick is an aspiring writer who recently retired from teaching in the public school and community college setting and still enjoys tutoring Algebra at the local library. Pam had a story, “The End,” published in Isothermal’s magazine, The Mentor, in December, 2014. Pam was also published in December 2016 in collaboration with eight other authors to write a devotional book, Ancient Stones Timeless Encouragement. Pam is a member of the Encouragers’ Christian Writers’ Group that meets monthly. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and tent camping with her husband, watching old time westerns, doing crossword puzzles and spending time with her daughter in Kentucky and her son, his wife and granddaughters, Merryn and Charlotte in Fuquay-Varina. Every other Sunday, she visits a nursing home and teaches a Bible study, feeling very blessed by God for this divine opportunity to share her love for her Savior. Pam has recently chosen to work on being more health conscious by eating a better diet and exercising more. Although tough times have come along her journey with God, she finds solace in the Truth that God is always there, just a prayer away, ready to help her get back up on her feet and start afresh. You can contact her at pjmc411@gmail.com.