My (Coffee) Cup Runneth Over

Tonight Shawn gave me the night 'off' to do my own thing. He's good like that. I had every intention of going to Starbucks, journal in hand, to listen to a podcast I'd been anxious to hear and to journal my thoughts about it. I made it Starbucks, bought my drink, set up my little station and got out my iPod. It was dead. I hadn't charged it. I thought "Great, I came all the way here and now it's for no reason."

To make sense of what happened next I have to give you a little background. A few weeks ago, on another one of my nights off, I was at the same Starbucks reading a book and listening to some music. One of the employees rushed towards the exit in tears. Her coworker caught up with her, they whispered a few things, he gave her a very long hug and she left crying. Even though I didn't know why she was crying I was really sad for her. I felt compelled to pray for her then and there. Ever since then I've said a prayer almost every time I've driven past Starbucks because I remember that instance.

Tonight that same lady was working. As I was packing up my stuff and putting my coat back on I felt, very strongly, that I was supposed to share the story with her. I had a little inner argument with God about it. Approaching a stranger about something so personal is definitely not in my comfort zone. I was so nervous. But I also knew that I wouldn't be able to walk out of there without saying anything to her and not feel terrible about it. So I went up to her. I told her what I had seen and that I had been praying for her ever since then. Her eyes teared up and she asked if she could hug me. She gave me a very long and tight hug and thanked me over and over again for praying for her and for sharing it with her. I told her that I didn't need to know why she had been crying or if she even believed in prayer but that I thought it might mean something to know she was being prayed for. She insisted on giving me a free drink coupon. She gave me her name and I told her I would continue praying for her. She hugged me again. As I was leaving one of her coworkers came out of the back room and I heard her saying "The most AWESOME thing just happened to me!"

I'm so glad I listened to that still, small voice. The idea of talking to her was so much scarier than actually going through with it. It left both of us feeling amazing and it was a great encounter. I think, after some time, I might ask her if there is anything specific I can be praying about for her. I'm so glad I stepped outside my comfort zone so I could be a blessing to someone else. And now I know I didn't go there for no reason.