A Missed Blessing
GraceI was dumbstruck.
“Why do you not like working here?” she demanded again.
“Because I wouldn’t want any of my friends to come here,” I blurted out, thinking of one reason: that every patient who came in ended up requiring extensive and expensive gum treatment.
Freda rose in anger, and almost spit in my face as she cried out, “You hurt my husband, and I could just choke you!” She turned to stand by him before demanding, “How could you? How could you say such a thing?”
Completely bewildered by the rapid descent into chaos, started by a simple back rub, I quietly answered with raised eyebrows, “Because you kept asking me?”
I was innocent of the forthcoming charge of “insubordination,” but guilty of naivety and tactlessness. So, I was shown out the door with Freda saying scornfully, “And you call yourself a Christian!”
A few years later, while living in Asia, Freda’s parting words invaded my dreams on occasion. We returned to the States for a furlough, and once, I was within a mile of the dental office and felt a strong nudge to go see Freda. However, pride stopped me. The dream continued popping up now and then after we returned to Asia.
Then I received a letter from my friend who had been an assistant in the same office. Freda was dead. Died of a heart attack, coming out of church.
I was stabbed with dread of forever being guilty of not obeying God’s nudge to visit Freda when I had the opportunity. But just as quickly the Nudger spoke peace to my heart with this message: “There’s no guilt. You just missed out on a blessing.”
To this day I wonder what blessing God wanted to give me. However, I am grateful when this lesson is brought to my mind and keeps me from passing up another offered opportunity for blessing.