Love Action

So, we were challenged to do a "love action" outside of the base. What's a love action you might ask. Just showing the love of Christ. Go out to the community and show the love of the Lord to someone.

Here I am totally discouraged about it. I'm mad because I'm supposed to talk about this "love action" tomorrow, and I feel I am forced to go out and do it. So, before sleeping the last two nights I am praying. "Lord just tell me what I need to do to get this love action over with. I don't even feel like it's love if it's forced..." On and on..I am being a total brat because I'm annoyed with this.  So I go to sleep Saturday night, I wake up to a dream and I think 'Delaney, remember this dream it's important.'  What do I do? I forget the dream. Then last night I go to sleep praying the prayer a little less angry, just a little more annoyed. "God, just tell me what to do for this love action. I want to love, but it's awkward loving on a stranger that isn't in this YWAM world."  I go to sleep.  I have a dream about an old man in Safeway, he is having a hard time doing something. In the dream I help him with whatever it is he needs help with.  Wake up! Yes! I found my love action. If the right old man is at Safeway when I am there, I am going to show him the love!  So after dinner, my friend Bethany and I go to Safeway to get some shopping done. I told her about my dream, and we were totally ready for this awesome encounter with this old man. Just showing him some love.

We walk into Safeway, instantly we see an older man. She nudges me and I'm like, 'nah, that ain't him. He is way too hip to be my old dream man.' So we continue into the store. No joke, not more than a minute passes and she notices an old man. THAT'S HIM! That is my old dream man!  So I nervously make my way to the man. Explaining to him that I am practicing hearing from the Lord. And I briefly discuss my weird dream to him. I ask him if there is anything I could possibly help him with. "No, I don't think so" he said with a smile. I then awkwardly ask if there is anything I can pray about for him. "Nope, I don't need any prayer today." We awkwardly part ways with a smile and kind words.  I was shot down by my old dream man.

Now I'm with a story of just a failed love action. But, I have a lady on my heart. She is an elderly women who lives next door to the base. I decided I would buy her flowers. I find a really cute little flower pot with pretty purple flowers. I'm hoping she isn't allergic to them. I buy these flowers with no clue what to say to this sweet lady I had only made small talk with a few days before. I got a little piece of paper and a cute envelope out to write a note. Secretly hoping that she isn't home, and I can just leave them on her door step. So, I pray about what to say to this lady. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born again and knows God." 1 John 4:7  This verse comes up, and I'm like "Uh, kay God, but I don't even know if this lady loves you." Next, I begin to write down something like "these flowers represent all the love the Lord has for you.  Also all the love you have given through your life. God Bless"   I like the envelope and stick it in the flowers.

I begin to walk towards the pond as people are questioning me about these flowers. Asking, who they are from? Who are they for?  I do the classic move and give them a sarcastic remark and continue towards these strangers house. I see there is three cars in front of the house. "Cool God, they're like having a party or something."  I ring the doorbell.  A man younger that the woman I thought had lived there answers the door. I kinda hesitate, "Hi, is your wiiiife home?"  "I don't have a wife, but my mom is here."  "Oh, yeah that's who I am thinking about."  He opens the door a bit more and calls out for his mother.

The sweet old lady answers the door. I am so weird in this moment.  "Hi, my name is Delaney. I'm a student at YWAM just next door. These flowers are for you, I just want you to know God really loves you."  She begins to tear up. Great! I'm a cryer, if you cry I cry. She gives me a big hug and asks me to come in.  We chatted and I asked if she believed in the Lord. She happily replies, "Yes, of course."  We then began a long conversation. We shared a bit of our lives. We cried together, we laughed and enjoyed each others company. Sweet, sweet Betty and her husband Bill. I was happy to meet her. And though, I didn't dream of it, it was better than I could have imagined. The joke was on me though. Betty and Bill were the ones who truly showed me God's love. They invited me into their home. Shared stories and even ended with a great prayer. They invited me to come back. "The back door is almost always open," Betty told me. They asked me to come back and share stories from my trip to the Philippines in November. I gave Betty my number and asked her to call me if she ever needed anything. With sweet hugs and smiles I left.

Even though I was bitter about it to start with, the Lord showed up.  He put a smile and her face and he showed me what love is. The family gave me an experience I will never forget. I am happy to call Betty and Bill my friends.