This morning I had to go to MacPherson Post Office to collect a parcel which I ordered from the U.S.A.. It was actually delivered to my place yesterday morning. The postman thought no one was in and left a letter to notify me of the collection.
I used the word "thought" because my grandma was actually at home at that point of time but she was too afraid to open the door and speak to a stranger. As much as I am relieved to know that, I wish she could have received the package on my behalf so that I need not go all the way to the Post Office. :)
The collection was prompt but after that the bus rides to a dear sister-in-Christ's office in Paya Lebar area went haywire. Haha. First of all, I boarded the wrong bus which took me to Circuit Road and then to Ubi area. Then I alighted and went to the main road. This time I boarded the right bus but alighted at the wrong bus-stop which means I had to walk further.
The only consolation is that the weather was cool. If not I would have died of heat exhaustion. :)
I am so happy the delivery period of the parcel was shorter than expected. Praise God!
Anyway, it was raining when I walked from my home to the Post Office. It was a 15-minute stroll. Along the way, I saw an elderly lady seated at the edge of a coffee shop. She was drenched and with her is a very old trolley with a couple of cardboards on them. Her umbrella was also tattered. I have seen her once or twice whenever I go to that coffee shop to buy this Chinese delicacy which my family used to eat often. It is called the "wu xiang" - some fried stuff which you dip in this nice chilli sauce.
After walking past the place, I suddenly felt this prompting to turn back and buy for the lady a cup of hot tea. I did just that. I ordered the tea, walked to the aunty and offered it to her. She smiled and said "kum xia" ("thank you" in Hokkien). Then another prompting came to ask whether she was hungry. I did and she said it was okay.
I smiled, bade her farewell and walked away. I decided to ask one of the helpers of the coffee shop whether the lady needed food and he told me that she hardly eats unless she has some money from the sale of the cardboards. My heart just sank.
I decided to order a bowl of soup noodles which I know is nice because my sister and I have eaten it before. I brought it to the aunty and advised her to consume it while it was still hot. She smiled weakly and said another "kum xia." I left her alone to enjoy the food. As I walked away, she said "bye bye" and tears just rolled but I had to control myself.
Offering hospitality may mean sacrificing either some of our money or time but the satisfaction received is priceless! It is not meant to be done with the attitude of just feeling good or out of obligation but it is a platform to offer the grace of God to others. Who knows? Maybe one day some of them may even come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
All praise to God for giving me this encounter. :)
I used the word "thought" because my grandma was actually at home at that point of time but she was too afraid to open the door and speak to a stranger. As much as I am relieved to know that, I wish she could have received the package on my behalf so that I need not go all the way to the Post Office. :)
The collection was prompt but after that the bus rides to a dear sister-in-Christ's office in Paya Lebar area went haywire. Haha. First of all, I boarded the wrong bus which took me to Circuit Road and then to Ubi area. Then I alighted and went to the main road. This time I boarded the right bus but alighted at the wrong bus-stop which means I had to walk further.
The only consolation is that the weather was cool. If not I would have died of heat exhaustion. :)
I am so happy the delivery period of the parcel was shorter than expected. Praise God!
Anyway, it was raining when I walked from my home to the Post Office. It was a 15-minute stroll. Along the way, I saw an elderly lady seated at the edge of a coffee shop. She was drenched and with her is a very old trolley with a couple of cardboards on them. Her umbrella was also tattered. I have seen her once or twice whenever I go to that coffee shop to buy this Chinese delicacy which my family used to eat often. It is called the "wu xiang" - some fried stuff which you dip in this nice chilli sauce.
After walking past the place, I suddenly felt this prompting to turn back and buy for the lady a cup of hot tea. I did just that. I ordered the tea, walked to the aunty and offered it to her. She smiled and said "kum xia" ("thank you" in Hokkien). Then another prompting came to ask whether she was hungry. I did and she said it was okay.
I smiled, bade her farewell and walked away. I decided to ask one of the helpers of the coffee shop whether the lady needed food and he told me that she hardly eats unless she has some money from the sale of the cardboards. My heart just sank.
I decided to order a bowl of soup noodles which I know is nice because my sister and I have eaten it before. I brought it to the aunty and advised her to consume it while it was still hot. She smiled weakly and said another "kum xia." I left her alone to enjoy the food. As I walked away, she said "bye bye" and tears just rolled but I had to control myself.
Offering hospitality may mean sacrificing either some of our money or time but the satisfaction received is priceless! It is not meant to be done with the attitude of just feeling good or out of obligation but it is a platform to offer the grace of God to others. Who knows? Maybe one day some of them may even come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
All praise to God for giving me this encounter. :)
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