As Helen hurriedly walked passed Chris, the young man greeted her casually and she replied likewise (although, they both knew each other but from a distance). Not satisfied with her responds, he went after her and asked what the problem was. Helen replied, “I have stomach upset and I need to get drugs from the pharmacy. But the pharmacy is not opened today Sunday. I don’t know where to get the drugs I need.”
Chris promised to help, and he traced the house of the pharmacist. Fortunately, he was able to locate it. The pharmacist came to his shop, which was far away from his residence, to sell the drugs to the lady. He paid for the drugs and bade her good bye.
That was all Chris sincerely did without any expectation from Helen. It was as if he gave her a love potion. Helen showed her appreciation daily. They eventually became very close friends, and the friendship grew so strong to the extent that it became the envy of their peers.
How could this young beautiful lady, who had been tagged proud and snobbish by many young men in the little town, suddenly became glued to Chris? Some of his friends ask how he was able to win her heart. And he told them what happened the day he saw her in distress, and how he helped her with the drugs she needed.
There lies in all mortal the desire to be loved, appreciated and cared for. Helen was in a great need and Chris went an extra mile to help her. I am sure she would have met other young men on her way, who never bothered about her sad countenance, until she met a caring Chris.
If you are genuinely interested in people, they will be genuinely interested in you as well. Never walk pass anyone you perceived is in trouble or in need. Try to help them out of their present predicaments, as much as you can, without any string attached and you will marvel at the returns that will bring you. If you sow the seed of kindness, care, love and affection, you will reap strong friendship, which is a door opener to a good marriage.
You never can tell, that sincere care or compassion of yours might just be the needed link between you and a good spouse.
Rebekah just showed care and kindness to the servant Abraham sent to look for a wife for Isaac. She was totally oblivious of his mission. Have you ever pondered on why the servant wrap up the “wife searching” trip with whosoever cares to DO MORE than what he asked?
“May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, AND I’LL WATER YOUR CAMELS TOO’–let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar. Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’LL DRAW WATER FOR YOUR CAMELS TOO, until they have had enough to drink. So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a shekel and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels…then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD.(Genesis 24:14-26, NIV)
Rebekah’s good heart opened the door of a good marriage onto her. She never thought she was walking into marital fulfillment. She was just being kind to a stranger and his camels.
Good character is invaluable. Your good looks may draw attention to you, but it takes good character to translate it into marriage. Yes, Rebekah was very beautiful, but that was not why she was chosen. She was chosen because she was caring. She went the extra mile.
How caring and compassionate are you? Do you hurry through life looking for those who will love you?
Why don’t you show sincere care and love to others first? Who knows, that singular act might be the answer to your prayers, and an end to your marital mirage.
Shalom!