Defining moments

…and I show you a still more excellent way. - 1 Corinthians 12:31

Saturday, April 21st ...

I saw Jesus work through the heart a dear woman - Mrs. Mei Kwong. I had made plans that Saturday afternoon to meet a good friend for coffee. On the way to his place, I figured that I would stop at a local car wash to say hello to another friend who was working there. It was in the middle of that car wash parking lot where I saw a little lady collecting empty bottles from a garbage bin. My heart began to stir... There was something about her… Within minutes she walked up to where my friend and I were standing, and introduced herself as Mrs. Kwong. Almost immediately she began to open up and tell us about how her 86 year old mother in China who was being treated for cancer. With business being slow at her family owned restaurant, Mrs. Kwong spoke about how she spent most days searching for bottles and cans to contribute towards covering the expense of her mother’s monthly medical bills. She also revealed that she too had cancer, and how the chemotherapy treatments were leaving her feeling weak and tired.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone while simultaneously talking to the Lord (quietly:) ? Such a moment was this! “Lord, what do You want to show me about this precious women?" “Father, help me to see her through Your eyes.” The next moment I began to tell her of a certain Healer named Jesus. As soon as I said JESUS, she leaped with joy. It was then when I learned that she too was a Christian, and how she believed through faith in the healing touch of God. By this time my friend had left Mrs. Kwong and I to attend some customers. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I began to pray for her. We both bowed our heads and called out to the Lord in agreement with His promises – that His will be done!

Sunday, April 29th

After the morning church service I made my way home reflecting on some of the defining moments in this great journey with Jesus. 20-meters later, I pulled a 180 degree turn, and proceeded to walk downtown without having any particular destination. After a few blocks, I found myself walking right behind the same dear lady I had met a week prior. That familiar twinkle once again radiated as Mrs.Kwong turned around to greet me. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”. “Come, and I will to introduce you to my husband at our restaurant.”

While her husband was preparing lunch she reached into a plastic bag and pulled out a little mandarin orange. She must have figured that I was hungry since it was already well past noon. I really was not that hungry, but she insisted that I should eat it, claiming how sweet and juicy the orange was. Later that evening, I could not think about that orange in her hand stretched out toward me without tears welling up in my eyes. The presence of God filled that restaurant. It was as if Jesus had joined us, and was sitting right there beside us. Jesus, Mr. & Mrs. Kwong, and I - all dining together.

In spite being exhausted from numerous chemotherapy treatments, Mrs. Kwong could still find joy in being a blessing to others. I was deeply moved by the love she displayed towards her family, and how she placed her own life as secondary to others. I thought of Paul’s words in Philippians 2:3:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Perhaps Mrs.Kwong’s joy came from understanding that no matter kind of adversity she may face, she is always secure in the nature of His goodness (Now that is joy!). The orange reminded me of the memorial stones in Joshua 4. Perhaps this is why something so little, like a mandarin orange, meant so much. Not only does the orange serve as a memorial and testimony of Mrs. Kwong’s kind heart, but also reaffirmed and reminded me of how “we love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

I'm happy to report that Mrs. Kwong has felt an improvement in her health and healing. The cancer is almost completely gone, but she still has several more chemo- treatments left. Please join me in prayer for this precious woman of God and her family. By His stripes she is healed in Jesus name!

Jesus, our Source of Joy, continue to show us how to walk in a more excellent way…