Will You Hold My Hand?

Sooooo . . .first off - just in case you don't know this about me . . .I'm a little bit of a germ-a-phobe.  I don't drink after my husband and children.  I wash my hands off and use hand sanitizer (yes, I've read the studies.)  I also am just a little funny about "my space" - you know - that space around each individual that some people don't respect???  If I love you, you may invade my space . . .if not, back up please :-)  . . .said with lots of love!!

Now that I've admitted my weirdness (just SOME of my weirdness - I won't share all in one post!!), let me tell you about what happened yesterday.

In my job, I am expected to re-present not only our church (yes - I meant to hyphenate that), but also to re-present Christ to others.  (actually - we should all be doing that but if you are like me, you fail miserably most of the time -- as a matter of fact, I feel like I miss MANY opportunities every day . . .).

Yesterday, someone showed up in the office and asked if I would go and pray with them.  I said, "sure" . . .and told another employee where I would be (just to be on the safe side).

This person and I went down to our chapel and we "chatted" as we went down the back steps.  When we entered the chapel, I lit the candles on the altar and I asked if he was able to kneel.  

He said "yes" so we knelt there in front of the cross. 

 I asked him what he wished to pray about and he shared with me . . .and then he said it.  Yes, he said it to ME, the germ-a-phobe . . . "will you hold my hand?"  Such simple words . . ."will you hold my hand?"

Those of you who know me well will be surprised - I immediately answered in the affirmative.  I think I even said something like "certainly."  While I prayed, I never thought about the fact that we were holding hands.  Of course, as soon as I finished praying, I disengaged myself.  We chatted a few more minutes and talked about hope and how praying gives us hope sometimes when nothing else will.

I started back up the steps and when I came out on our floor, I immediately walked into the bathroom and washed my hands . . . (sorry!) . . .but as I was doing so, I thought to myself, "I think I just held the hand of Jesus."  Maybe I did . . . Maybe I held the hand of Jesus . . .maybe . . .

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  (addition according to Lisa -- When did you ask me to pray with you?  When did you say, "Will you hold my hand?")

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 

UPDATE -- P.S. I FAILED MISERABLY AT 3:45 TODAY . . . I DID NOT RE-PRESENT CHRIST . . . . . . . .