Strangers

Yeeeeeeeeellow.

So, this is approximately my 17th blog.

I just get sick of them after a while. And when I go a long distance without writing one I like having a fresh start.

So this is just a simple little thang.

I want to start writing a blog everyday again.

It was fun.

(And Mara wants me to so I know I will have at least one reader.)

So the coolest thing happened yesterday.
All day long my day was influenced by total strangers.

It started at Starbucks with Mara. I walked up the the counter, ordered my drink, and waited for it to be done before I paid. The barista was incredibly impatient with me, for no reason at all. She acted like I was totally putting her out by having her do her job. I sort of giggled at this, because it was slightly comical how much she hated me. This only made her hate me more, I am pretty sure. She was probably around my age, maybe a little older, and for that reason alone I was even more annoyed by how much she disliked her job. We are supposed to hate our jobs when we're 20. Like, it should pretty much be a law. If you landed your dream job at the age of 20, then we should have lunch and you should teach me your ways. 

So after Mara had to go back to school, I drove back up the hill to another Starbucks to do homework. (How I am a Gold Member at Starbucks while working at a different coffee shop, I will never know.) When I first walked in there was a customer in front of me who was the worlds pickiest. I got a good laugh about that with the baristas, and we exchanged a couple stories about crazies, and I went on to do my homework. While I was sitting there I saw two adorable older women having coffee together. Obviously best friends, because the gossip was high and the filter was low. A man then walked in, and went up to one of these women. They had known one another, it appeared, and they talked for a little and shortly parted ways. She sat back down, and he sat next to me. About thirty minutes later the woman came back up to the man and told him something about her life currently, and some struggles her and her husband were facing with another couple both her and the man she was speaking to knew. She then started to cry. He immediately grabbed both of her hands and sat down next to her, and asked her if he could pray for her. She said yes. And they sat together, heads bowed, him praying aloud, and her crying. I tried so hard not to look, and I had to try even harder not to tear up (I am instant crier when I see other people cry, so...). 

Praying might not be your thing. It might intimidate you (me), or you might just think there is no one or nothing to pray to. But if you like bringing someone peace and comfort, you should take after this man. For someone you love it might be bringing them a coffee, singing to them, going on a walk with them, or just sitting together - saying nothing. Maybe it's praying. The point is that he gave her comfort through something that meant something to her.

Today, think about how to comfort those you care for. And also think about how many conversations you've had that have maybe influenced someone near you. 

Most likely, it's a lot.