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Daily Question, September 24

Who has touched my life unexpectedly?

  • DeVonna
    When I was a child, a sad and lonely foster kid, I began attending a youth group at a local church. One of the leaders, a young mother named Jackie, took a particular interest in me. She could tell I was awkward with people my own age and she could tell I was starved for a mother's love. She came alongside me, welcomed me into her home, took an interest in me and my life. Her kindness, compassion and gentleness led me to know Christ in a personal way. It is not possible to overstate her signific...

    When I was a child, a sad and lonely foster kid, I began attending a youth group at a local church. One of the leaders, a young mother named Jackie, took a particular interest in me. She could tell I was awkward with people my own age and she could tell I was starved for a mother’s love. She came alongside me, welcomed me into her home, took an interest in me and my life. Her kindness, compassion and gentleness led me to know Christ in a personal way. It is not possible to overstate her significance in my life, and we are still friends to this day, some 40 years later.

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  • Maeve

    Today, the card from Nancy with the words ‘May the forest be with you.” Encouraging, short greeting from her.
    The young man at Home Depot, who went out of his way to help me with my order.

  • Mica

    My neighbor and I are quite different in major ways, but we bonded over discovering that ‘one person’s trash is another person’s treasure’ – and we’re both ‘treasure people.’ It’s such fun to feel a real bond after ~8 years.

  • Janet

    My friend Barbara, who died unexpectedly 2 years ago. It would have been her birthday today. She was always so accepting of me, and had a great sense of humour. She was the sort of person I could discuss anything with.
    I thank God for letting me have Barbara as a friend.

  • Dusty Su

    Innumerable people.

    It’s a continual dance with stranger and friend alike. The give and receive of human connections. The saying, I went to be a friend (or a blessing) and friends (blessings) were everywhere has been borne out in my life a lot! I am so grateful.

  • Ose
    Many have. Someone dear to me today who had hurt me suddenly being present and unexpectedly was apologizing, touching, soft and kind; the refugees who live in this country by now and who are looked after by one of our gratefulness-group-members tonight have been in our thoughts and hearts while speaking about the incredible resilience they had to build to go through and stand what happened to them; how a sense of belonging of gratefulness and of faith essentially supports them, as it does to us ...

    Many have. Someone dear to me today who had hurt me suddenly being present and unexpectedly was apologizing, touching, soft and kind; the refugees who live in this country by now and who are looked after by one of our gratefulness-group-members tonight have been in our thoughts and hearts while speaking about the incredible resilience they had to build to go through and stand what happened to them; how a sense of belonging of gratefulness and of faith essentially supports them, as it does to us equally; the two friends, with whom I was lucky and gratefully spending this evening. So all these encounters seen and not seen unexpectedly touched my life just since the afternoon… and everyone a gift of sorts 🙏ॐ om shanti, friends.

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  • Don Jones

    A rescue dog called Bella. She is doing an excellent job of rescuing me. Big job, but she is doing great.

  • Sarah

    Jonah. I knew I loved him and he was a dear friend, but without the loss of him, I would not be who I am today. I almost hesitate to write that because it may be interpreted as I’m better off without him. This is untrue. I’m better off because his being lives within me. The lesson it taught me lives within me. How can I be sad when I get to feel his joy within me?

  • Linda

    I had the privilege of helping a refugee family from Afghanistan get settled a few years ago, and we are still friends. They helped me understand what immigrants go through in the US. Everything is a barrier.

  • Arleen
    There was an opportunity at a local college that I was interested in. I was told who to speak to and I did. The person seemed condescending and offered no information or hope. I walked away feeling rejected and dejected. From that time on, whenever I would see that person, I felt intimidated and seemed invisible to them. After about 8 years, I began working with him on a very occasional basis. I still felt the same way about them. Two years ago I started working on a Master's degree and t...

    There was an opportunity at a local college that I was interested in. I was told who to speak to and I did. The person seemed condescending and offered no information or hope. I walked away feeling rejected and dejected. From that time on, whenever I would see that person, I felt intimidated and seemed invisible to them. After about 8 years, I began working with him on a very occasional basis. I still felt the same way about them. Two years ago I started working on a Master’s degree and the second class, I had them as a professor. By the time the course ended, I saw this person in a new light. They seemed more approachable and even be able to carry on a short conversation. And now I seek this person out for information and personal growth. I never would have thought this would be possible after my first encounter.

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  • Ed Schulte

    Well the word “touched” might not be appropriate, BUT non-the less ……the “Who unexpectedly” is a thing called a “Virus” in scientific terminology.

    After reflection ( benefited by 10 months of observation ) the “Who” is not so “unexpected” after all. It has done some much needed exposing of weakness in the human’s so-called “modern” society. These types of “exposing” events have occurred quit regularly in human history …..bringing lessons to be learned with them.

    And on we go…

  • Zenith
    Many many people touch my life. Nature too. Just the other day walking on the college campus with no one nearby I was gifted by a dragonfly fliting back and fourth in the sunshine that was hitting that spot just right. Many times it seemed to come near me within a foot of me very slowly, as though to peer at me as I had stopped to watch it. Of course it was grabbing at bugs in the air but it honestly seemed to be studying me as much as I was studying it. It was a glorious gift for 5-10 minutes. ...

    Many many people touch my life. Nature too. Just the other day walking on the college campus with no one nearby I was gifted by a dragonfly fliting back and fourth in the sunshine that was hitting that spot just right. Many times it seemed to come near me within a foot of me very slowly, as though to peer at me as I had stopped to watch it. Of course it was grabbing at bugs in the air but it honestly seemed to be studying me as much as I was studying it. It was a glorious gift for 5-10 minutes. I have a pen pal who sends me post cards out of the blue between her actual letters. It is very nice.

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  • Michele

    Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Jacob Blake.

  • Trish
    The pandemic allowed me to meet a woman I likely would never have met. I decided to facilitate a women of the Bible group (zoom-style) & offered this weekly class to my parish. We had a strong group of 8 women & one woman I’d never met. B brought the most beautiful insights to our meetings. She found poems & interesting articles about the women & helped us feel connected to Hagar, Miriam & Lot’s wife in deep & meaningful ways. B is a treasure & after 5 months of w...

    The pandemic allowed me to meet a woman I likely would never have met. I decided to facilitate a women of the Bible group (zoom-style) & offered this weekly class to my parish. We had a strong group of 8 women & one woman I’d never met. B brought the most beautiful insights to our meetings. She found poems & interesting articles about the women & helped us feel connected to Hagar, Miriam & Lot’s wife in deep & meaningful ways. B is a treasure & after 5 months of weekly classes we said goodbye this week. I’m not sure I’ll ever meet her in person, yet she touched my life in a way that will stay with me forever.

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    • Juanella

      A couple came by home today to provide a bid for some work I need to have done. After evaluating the work to be done, he gave me a bid with a reduced rate.. since I was a first time customer. Wow! And then, before they left she suggested we pray and led us in prayer. Oh what a special blessing! I’m the only minister in a small church and it’s been forever since anyone prayed (in my presence) specifically for me. I was overwhelmed by the joy and peace of their unexpected gifts.

  • Kevin

    Oh gosh, there are so many people who have touched my life in so many unexpected ways. Almost too many to mention here, from dear souls who have long since left this earth to present people, including children, who have overcome such phenomenal odds and yet find a way to thrive as best they can.

  • Anita Kabwogi

    Joyceline Kaika has touched my life in unexpected way. She keeps leading me to things that have been bettering my life all the time and for that am grateful for her

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