The treasure next door...

This morning I had my neighbor over for coffee. She shared from her heart all that was going on in her life. She is so precious and has a softened heart for God to change her. She has given her life to JESUS and is pursuing to get things right in her life. I feel so honored to live next door to her. She is a very special lady. As she shared about her life and what she has been through, I realized that all this time, I haven't really known her, the treasure that I have one door away from me. We prayed together for her Grandma who is getting tested for cancer. When we were done praying, she said, "While you were praying, I had my hands folded together but when I tried to open them up I couldn't because it felt like someone was holding my hands." I smiled, and told her that sometimes when we are in God's Presence He manifests Himself to us in ways that we can actually feel Him near us. She also opened up about things that go on in other's lives who live very near me. I had no idea. She wasn't gossiping, but she was sharing because she had been effected in a hurtful way by things they've done. As she poured her heart out, God revealed to me that pain is hidden behind every door around me. She shared about things that go on in some of the kid's lives and through her, God let me see deeper into the lives of these beautiful children (refer to following post "Orphans and fatherless" ).