The other day, as I was setting my lunch on a table in a public place, my full cup of water tipped over and emptied its contents.
Water went over the table, the fliers, slid over the edge and waterfalled onto the tile floor, making a miniature lake around my feet.
I had the good sense to push the chair with my bag away from the table before the water could hit my phone or my computer, but it happened so quickly and so unexpectedly that I couldn't process exactly what was going on.
Then, as if there was a team of people hiding in strategic positions behind stone columns, crouching behind booths and under tables, waiting around the corner, four strangers appeared armed with towels and napkins.
I'm still not sure where they got the towels or how they got to me so quickly.
Before I could process that I'd made a mess, it was already halfway cleaned up. Before I could get more napkins to help clean up the mess that I'd made, it was already taken care of.
These people jumped into action nearly immediately. I don't know if it's because they saw me staring at the spreading water unsure how to handle it or if they really were just that fast, but they took a near catastrophe and wiped it out of existence.
There are two things I believe we can take away from this spilled water episode:
1. We need to be ready and eager to jump in and assist when we see a need. This is a practical, immediate way to love other people.
2. This is the nature of God's love for us, that as we were still making a mess he cleaned it up. (Okay, that's not a literal translation. The actual biblical text says "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." [Romans 5:8] But it's a great metaphor.)
Here's the other thing I keep thinking about from that episode last Tuesday: I was careful when setting the water down. There was a lid on the cup. I don't remember bumping it. But God knew that he wanted to give me a blessing, and that blessing required my spilling my water. God wanted to remind me that not only does he hold the big, life-changing aspects of my life, but he holds the little moments.
God holds the little moments.
What little moments do you need God to take for you? Where in your life do you need a few little blessings?
Now, as you go into your next week, let me say this: "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
J. J. Hanna is a writer and reader who loves God and wants to help encourage others with what she knows and what she's learning. Answer her questions with a quick note and connect with her on social media. She's excited to hear from you!
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