A stranger a day…

An article I read in the Country Woman magazine was very intriguing. The person who wrote the article had asked God to bring to her attention a stranger every day — someone for whom she could pray. One day she happened to be in the bus station and noticed a woman standing at the end of the counter. Was this her stranger for the day?

She began silently praying for that woman. After a few moments, she did something way out of her comfort zone by going over to her and introducing herself. Then, she told the lady that she had prayed for her. This had a great effect upon the lady, who shared that she had been going through a difficult time and was asking God just that morning if anyone was praying for her, if anyone cared about her. Both women were blessed by one simple prayer.


After reading this story, I came down with a sore throat and runny nose, and had to stay indoors for a week. There probably wouldn’t be many opportunities to meet strangers, but I asked God for one new person a day anyway.  


It was amazing! One day, my stranger was the UPS man who came by to deliver a package. The next, it was someone from the doctor’s office, calling about details of an appointment I had scheduled. I took these as God-appointments and prayed for them both.

Every day He brought someone new to my attention.


The most interesting God-appointment came at the end of the week, when the doorbell rang. A young woman was standing at the door, looking a little frazzled. 


“Can you help me?” she wanted to know. “I was trying to get to that house over there.” She pointed to the neighbor’s house, which was for sale. 


“I turned into the wrong driveway and when I realized my error, tried to make a U-turn and drove into a ditch.” She then turned and pointed to the place where she had left her car. One wheel had gone over a boulder, down into the ditch which feeds water into our little pond, and up the other side. It had been stopped by another big rock, on which the frame of the car was resting. Thankfully, the other three wheels were still on the gravel path and the car didn’t seem to have major damage. I started praying, realizing that this was my stranger and that she was truly in need of help.


After looking at the predicament she was in, Al advised her to call a tow truck. We introduced ourselves to her; and I invited her to come back home with us and offered her a cup of tea. She declined, wanting to stay with her car until help arrived. 


The truck came within the hour. The driver jacked up the front of the car and once it was free of the boulder, gave it a big push. Then our new friend, no longer a stranger, waved good-bye as she drove away.


Now I am keeping a list so that I can remember to pray regularly for these “strangers,” unfamiliar to me but well-known by God. Does he want us to pray for one another and to help carry each other’s burdens, even those of strangers? I believe he does. I can hardly wait to see who he is going to bring tomorrow!


“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV


“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 NIV


Judy Lowery lives in Springville. The Good News column appears regularly in the Porterville Recorder. Send e-mail to judylynnlowery@ocsnet.net.