Humbling Oneself

      Hello Friends, Family and Fellow Hikers,


               I thought I would write about my humbling experiences this week while hiking. On Saturday,  we hiked 22 miles on dangerous roads and it became mentally and physically exhausting on us. When it came time to stop, we sat on the side of the road waiting for our ride to pick us up,  a lot happened that made me think. As we sat there on the road cold and tired, reality sat in that we were actually homeless now...voluntarily homeless..... but still homeless. While this thought crossed our minds and we began to talk about it, a family came up with a pan of food and some juice and bread and offered it to us to eat. This was very humbling. We were not needy nor were we starving or begging but yet, we were homeless and cold. It was very nice to be on the receiving side to see what it is really like to others who are homeless and hungry. We graciously took the juice and bread but not the food. What a blessing those nice people were to be thinking of trying to meet others needs.
              Than today another humbling experience happened to me in D.C. at the American History Museum. We were all hiking around the sites being tourist and all of the sudden I found myself in the midst of a large group of mentally and physically handicapped adults. While I was trapped in the middle of them I began saying The Lord loves you and hello and how are you......? Then at once this very tall mentally challenged man just bear hugs me smiling very big and would not let me go and I began to cry. I wanted to help them to know Jesus but yet He showed me the Love of Jesus in his hug. From then, I tried to talk to another lady and she could not speak or hear me, form her challenge. This nearly broke my heart to see about 75 of them smiling and laughing and touring D.C. with a child like enjoyment and not a care in this world. It made me realize that life is fragile and short and we should look at everything with a child like faith or heart as these adults did today. I was hurting from my hiking pains and limping around today and here I find myself stuck in the midst of loving people with disabilities much greater than mine. God reveals Himself in many ways if we just take time to look for HIM. That hug spoke loudly the love of Jesus to me today and humbled my heart completely.
              Sometimes it takes the simple things to confound the wise. I was trying to show love and found myself receiving it instead. God is amazing.
I hope this will inspire you to look into the little things in life and you may be surprised. God Bless You all.


Love in CHRIST,


GentleFir
Backpacking Believers