Witnessing Grace in Unexpected Encounters

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We set out with a simple purpose: to minister to those who find themselves homeless. Our hearts were prepared to offer comfort, to serve meals, and in doing so, to share a bit of hope. But the experience that unfolded became so much more than we expected, a testament to how deeply God works through the smallest among us. As we distributed meals, a mother gratefully accepted the food. Almost instantly, she was moved to tears, overcome by the kindness and warmth she felt from our group. In that moment, the barriers of hardship and loneliness seemed to crumble beneath the weight of simple compassion.

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Yet, the encounter’s impact did not end there. An eleven year old boy, who had stepped forward to connect with this mother, became visibly emotional himself. Concerned, I quietly asked him what was on his heart. His response cut through the noise of the day and settled into a place of silent understanding he shared that the act of kindness reminded him of his own mother, whose abuse had left him longing for compassion. The memory, once distant, came flooding back amidst the tears of a stranger, and he felt both the ache of what he had missed and the healing of sharing empathy with another.

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​​​​The revelation weighed heavily on all of us. It was as if a chord had been struck, resonating through our group. In the silence that followed, the boy embraced the woman, and then turned to one of our own sisters, who had also endured abuse in her past. The circle of hugs that followed became a tangible sign of God’s presence soft, profound, and unmistakable a holy moment suspended between grief and grace.

 

Through this humble encounter, we were reminded that ministry is not only about

what we give, but also about how we are transformed by the stories and vulnerabilities of others. Often, it is the act of serving that brings our own wounds into the light, where they can be touched and perhaps, in community, begin to heal.