Our first test....

I admit I was annoyed, at the very least. My dear hubby had said something that hurt and offended me right before church started. So feeling quite justified, I promptly sported the 'tude. You know, the ATTITUDE. The one that silently screams "You are wrong!" in every language possible. Followed by the ever-popular silent look of, "It doesn't matter that you apologized. I'm quite content to be angry, thank you very much."

Yes. I can be THAT mature. *groan*

So anyway...we're driving down the road after church. I'm still annoyed that he's not completely seeing it my way. Because, really, what other way is there? (insert rolling of the eyes here). And we pass by a busy parking lot.

Passing the woman.

She stood there holding a sign. "Family in need. Food. Gas. Money. Prayers." Beside her sat two small boys about my girls' ages. Immediately, any anger fell to the side. The reality of HER situation grabbed me by the shoulders, jerking some sense into me, screaming "Stop being petty! There are REAL problems in the world."

I look at Jet as we pull up to the red stoplight. He's already opening his wallet.

We sat there for a second, watching this woman humble herself, basically begging for anything people would give. She is most likely my age. She is a mom. She is in need. She is banking on someone having compassion as dozens of cars pass her by. My heart went out to her, rolling my window down.

As she walks over, I realize there's no time to really say all that I want to say. Do I just hand her money? Do I pray with her right here? Should we pull over and talk to her? My mind is going crazy. I want to speak hope to her. I want to display compassion. But after a few minutes of talking with her, the light turns green. So I quickly hand her money and promise to pray.

But as we drove away, it just didn't seem like enough, you know? We gave her money, yes. But we were driving back to our comfortable home; they were still on the street. So honestly, our offer of money felt kind of trite. I thought about how I would feel in her situation. The shame. The inability to provide for my children. The complete dependence on strangers to take pity on me.

And like I've been saying, God's been prepping our hearts to do more. To offer ourselves. To really LOVE. So a few miles down the road, we turned around. Fully prepared to offer them our home.

"Are you scared?" I asked Jet right before we pulled back into the parking lot where she was standing. "A little."

I wait in the car with the girls while Jet goes to talk to them (the husband is now with them as well). ...Long story short. Jet left his cell phone number. They didn't need to stay at our house. But they deeply appreciated our offer of friendship.

And *bam* just like that, God gave us the opportunity to ACT on the things he's been doing in our hearts. Maybe next time, "they" will need our home? I don't know. But I do know that God will give us the grace to act out what is in His heart.

And yes, I'm still nervous about what it all will entail. Yes, I'm a far cry from perfect, sporting a childish attitude from time to time. But God's grace covers me. And His compassion pours out in limitless supply over my life. So that I, in turn, can become more and more bold in displaying His love and compassion for others.