"Hey, I'm going home to chew my gum," he yelled from the bus as my wife
and I entered the resale store where we were vendors. I was clueless,
although it didn't surprise me that she would connect with someone by
using gum. Only later did the story unfold.
While working at the
store, my wife would occasionally see this physically and mentally
incapacitated young man from the Adult Day Care Center parading around
in his wheelchair and chewing gum. "Where is my gum," she would ask, and
he would smile.
One day he came into the store with a nurse.
"Where's my gum," my wife asked again. Just a smile. "What's your
favorite kind?" She queried. "Spearmint," he said excitedly. "Like
this," my wife said offering him a piece from her purse. "Would you like
it?" "Yeah!" He exclaimed with sparkling eyes.
As he rode his
wheelchair down the sidewalk the following day, my wife presented him an
entire pack. With a huge smile and a "Wow," he wheeled off and told
everyone about his gift. It finally dawned on me why we spend so much
time on the candy aisle while in the grocery store. The gum and candy
are a significant part of my wife's ministry.
When the disciples
became angry because a woman poured an expensive bottle of perfume on
Jesus' head, he reminded them, "You will always have the poor among you"
(Matthew 26: 11 NLT). And the lonely, the elderly, the young, and the
mentally challenged.
So I suppose the next time we visit the
candy aisle, I'll keep my mouth shut about how unhealthy it is and how
much it costs. After all, if Jesus said a cup of cold water would be
recognized when given in his name, I suppose a piece of chewing gum will
do too.
Prayer: Father, open our eyes to see how we can use even
the smallest of items to give others a cup of cold water.
Chewing Gum for God
Today's Bible Verse:
"You will always have the poor among you" (Matthew 26: 11)
Chewing Gum for God
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