When Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
By Cindee Snider Re

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”. (Philippians 2:4 E.S.V)

Seventeen years ago, I walked into a McDonald's with my young son. We ordered lunch, and I picked up the tray, took my son by the hand, choose a booth, and settled in. Minutes later, chaos reigned. My son refused to sit, refused to be still, refused to eat. He fidgeted and whined and flung a French fry, tore up two napkins and scattered the pieces, and finally climbed across the table, grabbed my iced tea, ripped off the lid, and thrust his hand in deep reaching for the lemon slice. Iced tea erupted across the table and all over my lap. Overwhelmed and exasperated, I wanted nothing more than to leave the restaurant immediately. I shoved my half-eaten burger in my purse, grabbed a stack of napkins and mopped up the booth, hoisted my squirming son onto my hip, took two steps, and stopped.

There in front of me sat another mom with a table full of well-behaved children, not one or even two, but four little kids, all laughing and talking and smiling and actually enjoying each other's company. "How is that possible?" I silently cried. "How can she handle four when I can't even handle one?" And before I even thought about what I was doing, I crouched beside her table, my son still writhing on my hip, and poured out my heart.
Fast forward seventeen years to a warm June afternoon in a quiet church where I sat listening to my now 18 year old son sing and play guitar in the worship band for his high school graduation. As the band finished practicing, the run-through of the slide show began and I gasped, "I know that name! Seventeen years ago that graduate's mom led me to Christ and she doesn't even know it," I thought, though she soon would as a tear-filled, joy-filled, embrace-filled moment of recognition ensued.
One ordinary woman in an ordinary restaurant on an ordinary day investing one third of an ordinary hour in another, forever impacted the lives of more than a dozen members of one family across three generations. Why? Because that woman serves an extraordinary God!
That is the awesome, august, almighty power of the risen Christ, the sacred heart of the Great Commission, the amazing blessing of community, and the indescribable legacy of faith that changes the world. One life touching one life touching one life in ever-expanding circles spreading higher, longer, wider, deeper, farther than we can ever begin to imagine, than we will likely ever understand this side of Heaven. That is the incredible, unbelievable legacy of lived-out faith.
So what does it take to change the world? One ordinary moment filled with One extraordinary God!
Father, may we never be too busy to share Your love, mercy, compassion, and grace with the world - one heart, one life, one family at a time. Amen.

“There is no such thing as a 'self-made' man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.” George Burton Adams (1851-1925)

Cindee Snider Re lives in Sussex, WI with her husband, their five children, two cats, and two Shichon puppies. She enjoys quiet evenings, long walks, good books, homeschooling her kids, and lots of good, strong, hot, black tea.
August, 2011 http://www.BreatheDeeply.org
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS