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| Along Came a Spider... |
I have a tendency to compare people either to famous people
or characters from books. I don’t know
why, it automatically happens in my head.
My children and I often giggle about how accurate these comparisons are. (And generally I do not tell people that I do
this – for I certainly would not mean to offend or insult anyone…) However, this week (ironically on my birthday),
I had the honor and the privilege of meeting a woman who reminded me of
Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web. Now I don’t mean that she was “spider-ish”
for she certainly is not (although like Charlotte, she does have the most
exquisite sky blue eyes that radiate intelligence, humor, wit and a love for
people as well as for the Lord).
Personality-wise, she reminds me of Charlotte (classy in a Debbie Reynolds or Grace Kelly
kind of way - which is totally appropriate because in the movie, the voice of Charlotte is done by Debbie Reynolds).
Just like Wilbur the pig (in Charlotte’s Web), I was feeling at the lowest I could possibly feel. I had been forsaken and unexpectedly and completely betrayed by the very last person I had ever expected and I was feeling as low as a person could possibly feel. Along came a spider…
Just like Wilbur the pig (in Charlotte’s Web), I was feeling at the lowest I could possibly feel. I had been forsaken and unexpectedly and completely betrayed by the very last person I had ever expected and I was feeling as low as a person could possibly feel. Along came a spider…
As was in the case with Wilbur, Wilbur had been abandoned by
his human family and was feeling the lowest he could feel, alone, forsaken and
upset. Along came a spider…
Charlotte A. Cavatica… full of love, intelligence, warmth,
humor and compassion. Who would have thought
a tiny little spider would befriend a pig?
Yet befriend him she did, and she saved his life (If you haven’t heard
of or read the story, it is a must read – Charlotte’s Web written by E.B.
White). I can honestly say that God
brought “Charlotte” into my life. She
was my birthday gift from God at a time when he knew I most needed a friend. I walked into her office a woman who felt shattered into millions of little pieces, feeling like Humpty Dumpty, I did not think I would be able to be put back together and honestly, I didn't know if I wanted to be. I was crushed. But "Charlotte" helped me to see that my God is in the "restoration business" it's what He does. I was reminded that:
"He heals up the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91)
"The Lord is near the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
God is always on time and He knows what we
need. And when I walked through Charlotte's doors - I needed healing, I needed restoration, I needed to understand the "why" of things and to know that while people disappoint you all the time (myself included) and that God never will. I walked out her doors knowing what I already knew - that I have a higher calling. That regardless of what or how people around me do (or don't do) I know what God wants ME to do.
"Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalms 30:5)
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Anyone who knows me, knows I am *not* a fan of
spiders. But the beauty of Charlotte is
that she knew the true meaning of friendship.
She saw someone who was hurting, and she listened and encouraged, she prayed with me and let me cry. She went the extra mile not because she had
to, but because that is what a real friend does. A true friend loves genuinely with their
whole heart. A true friend encourages,
admonishes, builds up, listens, laughs, loves and cares. God works through people, and on my birthday, a day when I should have been filled with joy and happiness (especially being a 4 year cancer survivor) - God used her to restore my faith and my hope.
“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-15)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-15)
We should all be blessed to have a “Charlotte” in our lives…
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