1 Corinthians 3:7 – So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (KJV)

I was eager to get to my mother's hospital room as she recovered from breaking her hip. During the visit, I began a conversation with a dear lady named Inga in the next bed. She had been admitted for a serious digestive problem and had been told that it might be cancer. My heart went out to her as we spoke. She introduced me to her long-time boyfriend, Fritz, who was 99 years young. He explained to me that they weren't married because they couldn't find the right bridesmaid!

Inga told me that despite the blanket that she had brought from home, she was still so cold at night. I thought, What she needs is a polar fleece blanket. I immediately recognized God's bidding to do something about this. The next day as I toured a department store, I was sure that I would find that particular kind of blanket. It would keep her warm in the drafty hospital room. But no such blanket was to be found. I was sure that I had heard from the Lord that this was His errand for me that day. How did I get it wrong?

Later that day, I e-mailed my neighbour, a sister in the Lord. I told her that Inga had really touched my heart and that she was cold at night. Shortly afterwards, she e-mailed me back that she had made a blanket for Inga. Wow! So I did hear from the Lord, but He had commissioned another believer to come up with the goods. When I went to pick up the blanket from her house, we both had tears in our eyes as she explained that she, too, had an Aunt Inga and that her heart really went out to this Inga. She just knew that she had to care for this Inga by sewing her a blanket. That's how it is with God's people — we can care for strangers through Christ in us.

I hoped that the lady was still there to receive her gift, as people come and go quickly in hospitals. My neighbour said that surely God hadn't put this in our hearts to miss the mark. It was her errand for the Lord, too. She had even stitched the name INGA on the corner — a loving, personal touch.

When I got to the room the next day, Inga was still there, and I learned once again the joy of doing the Lord's errands. As I laid the beautiful blanket on her bed, she gasped. Running her hand over her stitched name, she said, "Oh! that there are still such people in the world!" The right, unplanned words that I had prayed for filled my mouth: "God sees you here in this room, and He loves you. It's the love of God that brought this to you. We are praying to Jesus for you." Her smile was broad as she explained a further joy: the tests showed no cancer. I threw my arms up and said, "Thank You, Jesus!" When I was leaving, she rose feebly from her chair to hug me once again and express her heartfelt thanks. The next day, Inga went home, and the opportunity to share the Lord was ended — right on time. We got in through God's window! My friend's blanket and my delivery services working together were God's errand to a forlorn senior lady in a chilly hospital bed. To be used for such holy errands is truly one of the greatest joys in life.

The way that this came together made me mindful of the fact that kingdom people need to be ever ready and ever aware of divinely-appointed errands. These come across our path in the most ordinary times and in the most unexpected ways.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, won't You use us today to do Your errands to spread Your love? Surely there is some kind word or deed that can cross our paths today. May we be busy for You in our busy days. Thank You for the joy of bringing Your love into those empty places in people's lives. To You be all the glory! Amen.

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About the author:

Linda Smith <lindasmithwpp@gmail.com>
Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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