Recently my treadmill broke, so I have been exercising outside in the glorious autumn weather. Years ago, my husband and I purchased acreage from a small country church, and now a county road runs between our properties. I had never considered the church cemetery’s gravel pathway to be a walking track until my treadmill broke. I began walking laps around the cemetery, enjoying the peaceful country setting.
Soon I became curious about the names on the headstones, and I took a break from walking for closer inspection. On a fresh grave marked with a hanging flower basket, I bent over to read the small nameplate. Tears filled my eyes as I recognized the name of a dear lady. She was the mother of a friend I’ve known since kindergarten.
This godly woman, full of a zest for life, died from a long battle with cancer earlier this year. I remembered joyful sleepovers at her house, and I recalled her quirky stories when she subbed for our elementary school teachers. She was the “fun mom” in our class—always laughing and telling jokes, keeping our spirits high. I have kept in touch with my friend in recent years, and I know how devastating this loss has been to her close-knit family.
I realized that by passing this gravesite on my walks, I have a visual prompt to pray for my friend and her family as they continue to grieve. Like so many Christians, I start with good intentions to pray regularly for people in need, and then I easily forget to keep praying. God’s plan is for me to pray over and over for this family during my walks. If my treadmill had not broken, if I had walked the county road instead of the cemetery path, and if I had not stopped to inspect the new grave, I likely would have forgotten to keep praying for my friend. I am thankful God strings those small, seemingly insignificant details together to direct me into service for His kingdom.
When I pay attention to the details right where I am, God often surprises me with new ways I can serve others. What detail is God calling you to notice in your daily life, so you can join Jesus in serving others?
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