So today, the Smart One and I were leaving the mall when we noticed a well-dressed, elderly lady pushing a button as she looked around lost. We stopped and asked her if she needed help.

She replied, “Can you hear it?”

We realized she was pushing the button to sound her car so that she could find it in the parking lot. So, we walked with her thru the parking lot while she kept pushing the button and we listened to find the car. As we slowly walked around, we learned a bit about her.

She didn’t find anything to purchase because everything was too expensive.

She’s lived here for 25 years.

Her husband passed away two years ago and she has no family except for a brother in Chicago and another brother in San Diego.

Her husband was a Russian Jew.

She thought I was Italian. 🙂

She thought my son was a perfect gentlemen and commented that you don’t see that much these days.

She also commented he could look like a girl…ha ha (I don’t think so!)

She talked about the community center she visits.

She thought I had a good name and spoke of someone she used to know that had my name.

And then we found her car and walked her to the door. We said our good-byes while she thanked us for getting her to her car and for taking time out of our day to talk with her.

As we watched her drive off, I was reminded of how thankful I am to have a large family. I hope that I’ll never be alone…and I wish I had offered to have lunch with her another day or…something.

Too late. I’m sure she would have had some fascinating conversation.

I googled “Russian Jew” to see what would show up. I came across some pretty interesting articles, one of which said,

“They were raised Jewish. They have Jewish names. They once suffered for being Jewish in the Soviet Union. Now they suffer for being Russians in Israel.”

I bet she would have had some interesting conversation.

As I sit her tonight reflecting on the day, I think of some of the little opportunities God has given us thru the years.

My children and I praying with a heartbroken man in Roberto’s Taco shop.

My children and I helping a homeless person who had fallen off of his wheelchair in the middle of a busy road.

Buying hamburgers, muffins and other items as we’ve come across homeless people thru the years.

Going into the heart of homeless and passing out food and blankets on the streets and corners where most people avoid going.

My children coming to me through the years, asking me to drop whatever I am doing because someone needs us now. And so we go.

If there is one thing I would pray for, it would be that my children will continue to look for the opportunity to notice that which most people would choose to ignore, and continue to stop and take the time to brighten someone’s day. We never know the impact that we have on others. While a smile or a short conversation may seem like nothing to us, it is more than likely God using us to minister in ways we would never think of.

And in doing so, allowing Him to make a difference in our own lives.