Short Stories

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I am some what of a common woman, not young anymore, but not what the modern world would call old just yet. I have tried my hand at many jobs, but did whatever was necessary to make ends-meat and at times that was just barely enough to get by. I am currently a taxi driver by trade, at this time it will do for work. I can imagine the ideas running through your head now that, I may not be as common as I think of myself. Dangerous job like that can’t be easy, well no its not, but I do meet some interesting people.

But, this is not the story I want to tell you. I want to tell you about a profound experience that God taught me one day about minding my tongue, which at times we even as Christians have some difficulty. As an adult, I can admit to the failure to be Christ-like, as we are directed to be. I had hoped with each person I had in my car that my positive attitude and inspirational music would plant seeds of Christianity in them. I have had a few ask me about the bible I carry in my car and those that are already Christians thank me for openly expressing my faith in God.

I was driving in my usual routine taking a passenger assigned to me to several different places and being as friendly as possible I did my job. I inadvertently over counted $10 change for a $50 dollar bill to her. By the time I had realized that I had over counted I was halfway to the next customer, I shook my head in this revelation and immediately to pray in repetition to God to handle the situation. Little did I know how the day would go after that?

I called the dispatcher on the radio and gave a brief idea of what had happened and asked to be sent back to that address as soon as he could. I was at least an hour later before I got back and as pulled up in front of the trailer where I picked her up. I stepped out of the car and she was already at the door opening it. I began to explain the situation and she cut me off in mid-conversation to tell me how much I had paid her. That she had went to the store right after and spent the money. That it was only $3 that I overpaid her and the money was gone and it was my lose not hers. Well being the person I was trying to be and the person of my past was creeping up telling me to react rashly and tell her how it was going to be. But, as calmly as I could I stepped back slowly and I told her evenly, not quit sure if she heard me or not, “I pray that God convict her of her dishonesty.” It took all that God had already implanted in me to walk away and leave it alone. I got into my car and didn’t look back. But, I did begin to argue with God about what had just happened and was vented my feelings at Him.

Like a thundering voice He began to chastise me for my behavior and a multitude of bible verses began to run through my mind. That I had just recently read myself and had asked God for my New Year’s resolution that He help me hold my tongue and try to be more Christ-like in that area of my life. Proverbs 12:16 - “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks insult”(NIV), Deuteronomy 32:35 “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."(NIV)

The most convincing sign that it was God that was speaking He reiterated a statement I had made the previous week. “There are more important things than money.” Within moments a very special song came on the radio, one that I hold very close to my heart. Tears began to fill my eyes as the song concluded and God spoke in a soft voice, “Money is fleeting and only last for a moment, Love is forever. I have far better plans for you.”

For the rest of the day I was humbled to God’s conviction and told many of the people that I had befriend from previous rides. They sided with me that she should have been honest with me, but what God had been trying to tell me for months had finally begin to sink in with that moment. I told my boss what the lady had said, but I knew that her day would come as I accepted the lesson I needed to learn. The moment played through my head several times over, as God may very well have intended. I have found that He does this to us till we learn the lesson, or heard Him clearly. Some can hear His voice, some see signs and at that moment I must have needed both to get my attention.

The next day as I began to read for my devotional time He then pointed out another scripture to me, I highlighted it so that I can find it over and over again when I began to slip or feel that He might not do as He intended. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”(NIV)

I know in my heart, without question; that He is there even in the small things. Even when we try to show the nature of our flesh, we also show our hearts to Him because He hears and sees everything we do. 2 Corinthians 7:11 “See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”(NIV) I hope my experience can encourage your walk with God and help to clear some debris from your path to becoming more Christ-like until we are all called to go home.

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