"And He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”"
- Luke 10:27 ESV
I remember a story about a young girl and her playmates who wanted to find what the next town looks like. You see, they were very adventurous and loves playing in the cemetery, the back of the old church, and the old school buildings. They love fun and have such brilliant imagination. They were Ninjas today, then Hukbalahaps tomorrow. They were fairies, Japanese soldiers, super heroes, astronauts, you-name-it-it, they were it.
So, this day, as they got so very dirty from playing the whole morning, the gang decided to walk to the next baranggay. Our "bida", being the tallest group, but not the oldest declared she will be Julie Vega, and the other kids are her brothers and sisters. They are now pretending they are the "Basang Sisiw" kids. So, off they went. When they arrived at the next baranggay, they saw the barrio school there and wanted to get in but the gate was locked. They decided against it and just walked back again towards their own baranggay. They got very thristy. Our Julie Vega walked across the street to a sari-sari store. The other kids followed her. There was this middle-aged lady who were running the store and asked them where they were from. No one answered. They asked the lady for water and she gave them a pitcher and glasses. She did not only let them drink, but was too concerned where the kids will go so she kept on interviewing them. Of course, the kids were so stuck with their acting, nobody said they were not really beggars but just a playful bunch of kids. They can really play in the dirt to be mistaken for street kids who does not know how to bathe, or does not have the means to.
Why am I telling this story? Because I vividly remember the look from that middle-aged lady's eyes when she were giving us water to drink and her concern asking us where are we going to spend the night. It was so clear that it never left my mind. It was Jesus that afternoon just quenching our thirst, and enjoying talking with us little ones.
The middle-aged lady is old now. Yes, she is a Feast attendee. And yes, her daughters are my friends now. I never told her this story before so I do not know if she remembers that one summer afternoon. Maybe she does, too. And maybe, she has her own version to tell.
It was a "love someone today"experience for her, and us. After that, we went home and my playmates were happy they thought they were very good child stars able to act out the characters we decided to portray that day. I was more than happy. I felt something inside that never left my heart and memory for years. It was a feeling of peace and joy only a Jesus-bearer can give.
Today, I wanted to be a Jesus to someone. I want to bring Him to His people again. In my own little way. In own big way. As long as His love stirs the heart and brings peace to the people I will meet, see and talk to today.
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