God Uses Unlikely People

"C'mon Noah, let's crawl through the fish tunnel!" I said brightly, wiggling the large opening of the spandex fish-shaped tunnel in my hands.

Noah would have none of it. He pouted and limped to the other side of the room.

I have worked as an occupational therapist for 28 years, and Noah wasn't the first child who refused to do what I asked. He just said "no" more frequently than the others. So when the sulky 4 year old refused to participate in my "fun activity", I quelled my own exasperation and tried a little harder.

"Look Noah!" I said, putting my head into the opening of the tunnel and looking through the plastic eye of the "fish". Noah turned and smiled, walking toward me.

Encouraged that I had finally engaged my little student, I pressed my face into the spandex of the tunnel and made funny faces. Noah began to laugh loudly and then…whack! Ow! I felt sudden sharp pain from the tip of my nose all the way back into my head. Noah had lifted his stronger hand and hit me hard, right in the nose!

It smarted! Feeling slightly dazed, I ended the tunnel activity and directed Noah to something else, still rubbing my throbbing nose. Wow, that little kid packed a punch! I didn't realize how much of a punch until later that day, when the throbbing led to a headache, nausea, and a trip to the emergency room.

It was incredibly embarrassing to tell the emergency room staff that I had symptoms of a concussion after being hit in the nose by a 4 year old. They chuckled but they took care of me and, fortunately, the tests all showed that I was fine. My brain had just been "shaken up". As the doctor reviewed my CT scan, he told me some other news.

"Oh, by the way, did you know that you have a couple of thyroid nodules?"

Thyroid nodules? No, I had no idea. What were thyroid nodules?

"You should have those checked out," he said.

Well, the couple of thyroid nodules turned into a 5 month ordeal of diagnosing and removing a multi-nodular goiter from my neck. It was not pleasant and took a lot longer than I thought it should have, but it's gone now and I am feeling much better. What would it have turned into if that trip to the emergency room hadn't happened? I credit God with that one: God used an unlikely person, Noah the 4 year old, to alert me to a serious problem with my own health.

God uses the most unlikely people to reach out to us. We might feel really uplifted after that inspirational Sunday sermon, but God doesn't stop reaching out to us after church is over. Every day God shows up in the people around us. That frazzled check-out girl at the grocery store or your elderly neighbor who stops to chat at the mailbox. How about your co-worker who tells you to "have a great day" at the end of every email? Then there's your teenage daughter who repeatedly announces that she's not so sure Jesus was real. Even the jerk who pulled out in front of you at the intersection and then had the nerve to throw a rude gesture your way! Now there's an unlikely person. Would God really use him?

Yes, God would. In fact, God may be reaching out to you through all these people, giving you opportunities to serve and to be served. A kind word from you might turn that check-out girl's day from dreary to bright. Your chat at the mailbox might be the highlight of your neighbor's lonely hours. Your co-worker may really mean it when she says "have a great day" and she might be willing to talk about that big problem of yours over lunch. Your teenage daughter just wants someone to assure her that Jesus is real and to show her why. God shapes all of these interactions. He even sent that guy who cut you off to remind you to apologize to your husband for being rude to him the other day. God is present no matter where you are, touching your life through others and their lives through you. 

So as you carry on with your busy day pay attention to those around you and consider how God is reaching out to you. He may not have a 4 year old hit you in the nose, but he may send an unlikely person your way who will have just as much of an impact. The smallest interaction could lead to the biggest change in your life. That is how God reaches out to all of us.

About the Author:

Janet Meydam is a freelance writer who specializes in health care related topics. She is also an occupational therapist with 28 years of experience in a variety of settings. Janet has been blessed to see God's reflection in the many people she has treated over the years. She and her husband Tim live in Wisconsin.