Encouragement

Yesterday, I experienced the neatest thing that I have seen anywhere in a long, long time. I was on N. University Drive in Tamarac and where we were performing some construction project work. We had to temporarily close one of the sidewalks and set up MOT (Maintenance of Traffic) devices. While I was involved in setting up the site, a pedestrian approached the closure and detour. I noticed that this individual was an elderly person with a walker. I offered my arm to her to assist her in negotiating into the temporary sidewalk detour, which she graciously accepted. 

As we walked, she informed me that she was 96 years old (From New York) and was going to a stress test at the hospital (about 100 yards away from us). We talked about her life (her husband, now deceased, and her only child), as we neared N University Drive. This road is six lanes (three lanes in each direction) with heavy traffic. As we began our crossing, the walk signal suddenly changed to "don't walk." I tried to get her to return to the edge of the walk, but she did not understand. We walked though that intersection! 

The neatest thing happened. The people in all six lanes stopped while we proceeded to walk through that intersection. Even though they had a green light, not one vehicle moved. Everyone patiently waited for that precious senior lady and I to walk through that intersection to the other side. Every now and then, humanity will surface and the things that are truly important radiate. God's grace was shared and we all had a moment to see a demonstration of compassion. As she passed through to the other side we said our goodbyes and parted. The waves and claps that I saw was so encouraging. It wasn't about me...simply compassion and concern for a fellow human being. I am still taken back by this experience, but I wanted to share this with everyone. God still works in our lives...and even when people are in a hurry, we can still find time to help others. God is so very good!!!