Samuel

One afternoon, Stew and I stopped to pick up a few groceries on our way home from an appointment. Stew was feeling tired, but decided to go in the store anyways.

While choosing some bananas, I heard a voice behind me say, "Here, let me help you with that." I turned around and there was a tall, slightly stooped gentleman with a produce bag in his hand. He was holding it open for me to place the bananas inside.

Resting atop his head was a Veteran's ball cap, on his hands were plastic gloves, and lighting up his entire face was a big, gentle, smile. I dropped the bananas into the bag while saying "Thank you."

Noticing the emblem on his hat I asked him when he had served and he shared briefly about his time in the military.When I shook his hand and said "thank you/God bless you for your service" a glimmer of tears pooled in his eyes. I mentioned that my husband had served in the military 24 years and had been in Vietnam. Samuel had been there as well.

We talked for a few minutes more. I left to find Stew so I could introduce them. There was just something different about this gentle man...gentleman.

Stew came around the aisle as I was walking away, and patiently returned with me to Samuel. He didn't fully understand how much I wanted them to meet. I didn't myself.

They shook hands and shared a few words. We told Samuel what a blessing it had been to meet him, and that God had brought him as an encouragement to our day. He smiled.

And, then God!

Samuel looked intently at Stew while gently pointing his finger and said, "You take good care of her." Turning his face to me he whispered softly, "You take really good care of him, he needs it." Then he spread out his arms quietly declaring, "And, God will take the best care of all of us."

Stew had tears in his eyes, I had tears falling down my cheeks, and Samuel was beaming. He let me give him a hug.  While doing so I whispered to him that my husband had cancer, and I was so thankful to God for letting our paths cross.

He responded with a "Uh-huh" as if Stew having cancer was no surprise to him. After a moment's pause, Samuel bowed his head a little and shared that he had cancer as well and was currently in remission, but God had been with him through everything in his life and God was with us, too.

Since then, every time we go to that store, we look for Samuel just to share a hug and a hello. Sometimes we go in just to see him. We know now that he is 80 years young, goes to church on Sundays, is still in remission, believes God will continue causing him to bear fruit in older age, and his heart hurts because people don't smile anymore. He so wants to bring a smile to each person's face.

He definitely did that for us, and continues to do so.

Samuel-God's smile maker.

God-the center of every story in our lives.

Love and prayers,

Stew and Deb