A Hidden Blessing
(Kindness)

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Colossians 3:12

Staci sat at the airport gate waiting for her flight to board.  This particular gate was the last one to board the concourse---a remote tentacle of the terminal reaching toward sparsely populated parts of the country.  Staci needed anonymity, and she thought a small town would provide the refuge she was seeking for the mission she was on.  Her heavy heart felt the implications of her remote status, as if banished from the mainstream of life.

Three week earlier, Staci's world had been turned inside out.  When she discovered she was pregnant, her boyfriend had abandoned her, and her career plans had taken a sharp turn south.  Staci was an amateur model, unmarried, and now expecting an unwanted child.  Though she had always been very close to her parents, particularly her father, she decided she would not tell them of her predicament, knowing they would be hurt, ashamed, and embarrassed.  They have sacrificed so much to get me through college and help me get started in life.  Why not spare them the pain of knowing this? she had reasoned.  She resolved to suffer alone because she had failed them in spite of all they had done for her.

The gate attendant announced the boarding protocol.  As she approached the stairway leading down to the airstrip, Staci's burdened heart betrayed her to an observant elderly gentleman with soft, white hair and a beard to match.  He watched her diligently, however discreetly, as she climbed the narrow steps onto the small prop plane and found her seat next to a window in the back of the aircraft.  Noting her heaviness of spirit, the elderly man knew he could not ignore her need for the sake of his own convenience.

He waited until everyone had boarded before asking the middle-aged woman next to Staci if he could trade seats with her, pointing to an aisle seat several rows up.  He explained the he needed to be in close proximity to the lavatory.

Though preoccupied with greater concerns, Staci dreaded spending the next two hours sitting beside an elderly man with who-knows-what kind of illness.  Her mind repulsed at the thought of an undisclosed disease, especially since she was feeling quite nauseated these days.

He smiled at her, adjusting his safety belt and settling into his seat.  She smiled back, with reserve, hoping he caught on to the fact that she wasn't open to conversation.  Reaching for her book, she shifted slightly toward the window, signaling that their interaction had reached its completion.  Surely the old man would read her body language and leave it at that.

The minutes ticked by slowly.  Tortured in her spirit, Staci prayed for the pace to pick up.  She wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.  The thought of going through an abortion alone frightened her, and her conscience was beginning to emerge from it numb darkness, seizing her heart with unexpected waves of emotion and erupting through her eyes in unannounced torrents of tears.  She wished her dad were there beside her instead of this aged stranger.  She had always relied on her dad to take care of her, but she couldn't turn to him now and risk breaking his heart.  He had loved her so deeply and protected her from life's hard knocks.  But now she must protect him.

The plane's first movement was snail-like, but it quickly picked up speed, lurching into the sky with an awkward and unmerciful surge of motion.  Staci's nauseous stomach reacted violently to the turbulent takeoff.  Dropping her book, she grabbed for the bag in the seat pocket in front of her, a cold sweat breaking out over her face and sending a tremor though her body and out through her hands.  He trembling fingers fumbled with the bag, and panic gripped heart as she felt herself losing control of the situation.

Suddenly, one strong yet gently hand grasped her around the shoulder and held her firmly as she heaved forward, while another took hold of the bag and held it unwaveringly to her mouth until her vomiting ceased.

In one graceful movement, the old man was out of his seat, tossing the bag into the lavatory, and back with his handkerchief in hand mopping Staci's face with tenderness and compassion.  Weak and exhausted, Staci offered no resistance.  She resigned herself to his gracious embrace for the moment with gratitude and relief borne of humiliation.

Within minutes, a flight attendant approached them, having noticed the activity, and remarked, "Well, young lady, you are fortunate to have your father traveling with you."

"More like grandfather," the old man responded with a lilt in his voice, looking at the flight attendant.  "I am old enough to be her grandfather," he continued, turning back to Staci, "and might add that I would be honored and thankful if I were.  However, I am not, so my boasting ends with this:  I have been blessed to know her only since boarding this plane."

Staci hadn't looked at his eyes until then.  Now that she saw them, she couldn't help but notice that they were deep, brown pools of compassion in which she saw herself swimming, completely immersed in a look of love and understanding.

"Thank you so much, sir," she stammered, captivated by his eyes.  "I heard you say you were ill, and yet you ended up taking care of me.  I'm so sorry for the inconvenience and discomfort.  I might have caused you, but don't worry, at least I'm not contagious."

"I'm not ill," he assured her smiling.  "I'm a healthy old ox, but I've been around awhile and I know heartache when I see it.  I thought you might need some support, so I was, in effect, volunteering for the job.  You see, I have a granddaughter about your age, and I live in a state of expectant hope that if she ever needs help, there will be some trustworthy old soul who will be there for her in my absence."

"I'm not sick either," Staci said.  "I'm pregnant."  Her eyes lowered as she labored to release those last words.

"Well, congratulations!" he responded, grinning broadly.  "I'm relieved to know that it is a hidden blessing that has such a beautiful young woman in turmoil."

"Thanks," Staci muttered heavily, intending to end the conversation at that.  She straightened her sweater, smoothed her hair, and fished her book from between the seats, where she had dropped it.  Her mind held onto the words, a hidden blessing.  She couldn't help consider the irony that it as shame she was hiding and there was no apparent blessing in this situation.  Tears stung her eyes without warning and she tried to blink them away.  But one salty rebel broke through the barrier of her lashes and splashed with open treason onto the page of her book...publishing to her seatmate that the turmoil was not ended.  She hoped in vain that he had not seen the tiny teardrop that escaped her eye.

"Is your father living?? he queried.

"Yes, he is, and I wish he were here," she said sniffing, stifling a sob.

Wisdom spoke through the wrinkled lips of discernment: "I wish you could meet my granddaughter.  She is a lot like you---dignified and poised.  My dear child your own father's heart will be so graced in his old age by the child that inhabits you womb.  Have you told him yet?"

Staci looked up in disbelief.  Dignified and poised!  "Sir, I find it amazing that you would describe me in those words, when ever since you sat down beside me I have been completely out of control.  The answer is no, I haven't told my father, nor do I intend to.  It would break his heart, because I am not married."

The old man reached for her hand and squeezed it gently as he spoke:  "A man's heart is built to absorb the pain of those he loves.  It is his calling.  Far greater would be his sorrow if he know he hadn't been given the opportunity to be there for you when you needed him most, for his devotion to you has nothing whatsoever to do with your marital status," he whispered.  "He loves you because you are his."

There was silence for several seconds.  "I'm an old man; I know these things."  He squeezed her hand a little tighter.

She ventured to look back into his warm eyes, searching for hope, for help.

"Would you do me a favor?" he asked.

"How could I say no after what just happened?" she responded.  "I owe you, don't I?"

"No, my dear, you don't .  We exist for this, to lend a hand in time of need.  But when this plane lands, if you would call your father for me, I would be forever grateful!:  He winked and smiled, returning her hand to he lap.

Months later, in the spring of the year, Staci gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  Holding the tiny wonder in his arms for the first time, Staci's father spoke his heart and hers as he looked toward heaven and prayed:  "Thank you, Lord, for this precious life, my granddaughter; and for the joy, the pain, and the privilege of loving.  And thank You, Father, for providing my child, on that fateful flight headed for a world of hurt, the wisdom that turned her heart toward home."

Always be listening to your Father in Heaven, so that He can use you to help and bless others...not just family and friends, but strangers as well.   It's easy for us to be a blessing to those we love and loves us, but love and kindness should not stop there.

Where would we be if God had stopped with only those that were lovable....we sure weren't lovable to Him, but He loved us anyway and showed us grace and mercy.  Now our part is to give the same to everyone.

Take the time throughout your busy day and do a checklist to see if you are walking in the Spirit.  Ask yourself throughout your day:  Am I walking in:

Kindness

Simple kindnesses, whether from strangers or long-time friends, make the world worth living in.  Sometimes they catch us by surprise; other times we see them coming.  However, they drop into our lap, they are welcome visitors...little reminders that God and goodness still live in human hearts.

My precious family and friends, your kindness to me did not go unnoticed.

God bless you all.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

Janette Moore

Midi Playing:  Blessings

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Janette Moore