Guest Post Kim Abernethy: The Purple Skirt

Jul 30, 2011Kingdom Uncaged, Work Uncaged, Write!

What a touching post by Kim Abernethy today about how she reached out to a new “friend.” May you be inspired to engage with others today.


I like your skirt,” I said with a smile as my friend (who had just become a new grandmother) and I entered the elevator. In my mind, I quickly thought: Why did I say that? I wasn’t thinking that. But I had said it and the tired black woman who had kindly offered to show us the quickest way to the cafeteria fluffed said skirt and smiled. For the rest of the ride from the 8th floor to the 3rd, we talked about a small department store where she had purchased the skirt – for $3.95 with a coupon.

As we exited the elevator, I sensed that there was more I was to say to this woman. Not exactly sure of what it was, I thanked her for showing us the way. “You must have been here a while. You seem to know your way around,” I said to her. “Been here 21 days,” she quietly mused with a sad voice. Then I just seemed to know that I was to “enter into her sufferings” for a little bit. God affirmed this with a tug at my heart.

The conversation went on:
“If you’ve been here that long, you must have someone in intensive care.” (Me)
“Yes, my husband has been in and out three times this month. Doctors say he will not make it through the weekend.” (My new friend)
“Oh, I am so sorry!” (I touched her shoulder) “What happened to him?” (Me)
“He got some kind of fungal infection – very rare. Most doctors around here have never seen it before. Now the infection has caused his brain to swell.” (My new friend)

From there, we asked her if anyone was here at the hospital with her, and she said they were all in her hometown (which was about an hour away). She told us that she had a church family and that she was a Christian (which we had already keenly sensed). That was the only thing getting her through this, she attested. Confidently she confirmed that she was blessed with many good friends and they called her every day. Her testimony of God’s grace and peace was palpable. Powerful.

As we encircled her with a Christian bond of love, there were two more things to do before we left her. I put my arms around her and I said, “My friend, I am buying your lunch today. God told me to do that. I want to do that.” She looked at me as she comprehended what I said and then cried quietly. Walking her towards the lunch trays, I began telling her that I was a new author, had written a book about our missionary life in Liberia, West Africa. She seemed intrigued and said she would sure like to read it. I smiled as I pulled the only copy that I had tucked away in my pocketbook. “I believe this copy is for you.” Again, she cried as she read the title, “IN THIS PLACE. What a nice title. We all have our places we are to be, don’t we? And He (pointing up) is in that place with us.” I nodded yes, unsure of my voice as again I saw God receiving glory and strengthening one of His own through the words He allowed me to write.

As I watched my new friend walk away with her bag of food and the book tucked under her arm, I wanted to kneel – right there – in awe of my Heavenly Father and what He had allowed me to experience. Entering into the suffering of another is never an easy thing, but the blessings that abound there are breathtaking!

And all because of a pretty purple skirt!


Kim Abernethy
Author of In This Place

 


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