Last evening around 9p I went for a walk. It had been a routine hot summer day in Kansas but my legs told me, “get up, woman, and take a walk”. It’s just so easy to fall into a habit of sitting with cellphone in hand, scrolling through news clips and social media, fogging the old brain with far less than uplifting content.

So I walked out the front door and this is what I saw:

The hot sun was losing its power, the sky was gorgeous, there were lovely blooms on a mimosa tree. It was just God and me as I walked through the neighborhood. Good therapy for the soul.

It’s kind of natural for me when I’m walking alone to silently talk to God. Prayer walking. Also good therapy for the soul. There weren’t distractions, it was kind of dark and quiet. Gentle breeze wrapped around me like a hug from God. Do you ever have experiences of this nature? I think God designed us for such times and we need them. And oddly enough, my Fitbit thought I was doing a good job. “Keep it up, you’re getting zone minutes”.

As I approached my turn-around point I could dimly see two people walking toward me. A young woman and her very young daughter, having a sweet conversation and obviously enjoying each other. I didn’t recognize her but as we met we exchanged friendly hellos and smiles. Her joy was evident and refreshing. Such a simple, extremely brief encounter. Maybe 30 seconds total. I am certain she has no idea how God used her smile and “hello” to encourage me.

Would you consider that God uses you in ways you will never know about this side of heaven?

A mother of one of my childhood friends volunteered teaching VBS back in the 1960’s in my rural Kansas hometown . It was the only time I attended VBS as a young child. My folks didn’t go to church and I didn’t either. Mrs Wallace taught the class I was in. I only remember two things she taught: Psalm 23, and the scripture that says “Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ Jesus has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. Psalm 23 is 6 verses long. I memorized them all. There was probably some sort of prize, likely an edible prize of a sweet nature, for memorizing this scripture. I would venture to guess that Mrs Wallace had no idea the impact she would have on my life. She was probably unaware the difference she was making in my little girl heart. It was a tiny seed planted that continued to grow into my adult years. Often, and I mean very often, the 23rd Psalm has helped me through sleepless nights of a stressful nature. Thank you, Mrs. Wallace, and thank you God for using her servant heart to introduce me to your Word.

Picture this: Meeting Jesus face to face, hearing “Well Done”, and then learning of the time(s) you unknowingly made an impact in someone’s life to the glory of God. Maybe it was just a warm smile and “hello”. Maybe it was one day when you were dead tired and a bit grouchy, but you gave your best effort, albeit weak. Maybe you even thought you’d failed miserably. But God.

And now, can I gently suggest you stop scrolling social media on your devices, watching the news on TV, being distracted by nonsense and…..go for a walk, friend. Or just sit and enjoy nature. Let God give you some soul therapy.