The least of these

Matthew 25:37-40
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’"
It was SO hot! I was working hard to finish up early so I could steal away to the Pleasant Grove Camp Meeting in progress this week. In fact, I was gathering up my things to leave when she knocked on the back door. My secretary offered to "deal with her" but I waved her in.
She was soaked in sweat. She was shaking and fidgety. She only asked for food. I didn't get the usual sob story. She didn't tell me about her sad circumstances, her children going hungry, nothing. Just politely asked for some food for herself and her children for that night. I had to pull the story out of her.
And what a story it was! Three weeks earlier her mother had died, leaving her literally homeless. She and her two children had wandered from place to place, from Lancaster to Waxhaw, depending on the kindness (or not so kindness) of anyone who would let them stay for a short time. The last so-called friend had "borrowed" her EBT card and used it to throw a party! Her children were at a church camp and were finally safe and cared for. We made calls. She made calls. The shelter doesn't take people with children. Finally, she spoke with an agency that would take her in. With all her belongings in two laundry baskets, we set off to her new life. Nervous and shaking from the effects of a week without her insulin, she cried on and off all the way there. We prayed together many times that day. When it came time for me to go, the agency assured me that she would be well cared for.
Finally on my way to camp meeting, I put her out of my mind. The preacher was awesome, and gave a time to lift up any prayer concerns, and again she came to mind. Though, I didn't go down front, I felt a tug to do so. I just prayed for her where I was. When I got home, I had a message from our daycare director that she was trying to reach me and it was URGENT. I called the agency she was housed with and they couldn't put me in touch with her. They assured me that she would be in touch with me.
The next morning I was late getting into the office, but she was there within minutes after I arrived. She was a different person! She smiled from ear to ear! She had been approved for special housing, but had not received the mailings because she had no address. Crisis Assistance stood ready to help her get the power on. If we hadn't taken her to see the social worker at the agency, they never would have found her!
Now she is settling into her new apartment with her children. She still needs a job and child care, etc, but at least she is not on the street anymore. I have many times thought that my ministry is unfruitful; that I plant seeds that others will harvest; that I leave work every day never seeing the glory of the Lord revealed in what I do. I now know it's because I was doing all the doing. When I went off-schedule and just went wherever the Lord led, I got to watch a miracle. I was just the transportation and telecommunications - HE was the source. God IS still in the miracle business - if only we will yield to His will and follow where He leads.