“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” – Psalm 51:12
A Rough Start to the Day
It was the year 2010 and “one of those days”. I had woken up feeling unusually low, weighed down by thoughts of my dwindling finances —something I had been fervently praying about for some time. Despite my routine and the familiar route to work, the cloud over my heart refused to lift.
As I approached the street just before my office, something unexpected happened. A lady walking a few steps ahead of me collapsed. One moment she was steadying herself on a parked car, and the next, she had fallen hard to the ground, her bag and parcels scattering across the road.
Responding Without Thinking
Instinctively, I rushed to gather her belongings. Two men in the growing crowd helped carry her to the sidewalk, away from the threat of oncoming traffic. It looked like she was having an epileptic seizure. We laid her down gently and waited for the fit to pass.
I searched her bag, hoping to find a phone to contact someone she knew. Her phone was locked, and a small notebook inside didn’t help either.
Minutes stretched on, and just when concern was beginning to escalate, a young woman in the crowd that had begun to gather mentioned she had already called a taxi. Together, we gently loaded the unconscious lady into the back seat. The young woman cradled her head with care as we sped to the nearest hospital.
A Chain of Kindness
At the hospital’s casualty unit, after some quick first aid, she slowly regained consciousness. In a faint voice, she explained that she was diabetic, and her blood sugar must have dropped too low. Now coherent, she gave us her phone’s password, and we were able to contact her husband.
As we took a ride back to town in a “matatu”, the young woman beside me shared something profound: years ago, a stranger had helped her after a serious road accident and taken her to hospital unconscious, and she never got to know who it was. That act of kindness had inspired her to always help others in need. She had simply been “paying it forward.”
A Joy That Money Cannot Buy
By the time I got to work—well past my usual reporting time—I noticed something had changed. My mood had completely lifted. My heart was filled with joy, not because anything had changed about my finances, but because I had participated in something meaningful.
For a moment, I imagined Jesus smiling down at the scene, much like He did in His parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). That story had come alive before my eyes—and I had been part of it.
Lessons from the Unexpected
That day taught me invaluable lessons:
- Life is fragile and sacred.
Every moment is an opportunity to glorify God with our actions. - Happiness isn’t rooted in wealth.
Joy that surpasses understanding comes from obeying God and loving others.
“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Faith must be accompanied by action.
As James reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17) - God grows us through service.
Our spiritual maturity is measured by how we respond to divine interruptions.
“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”
— Martin Luther
Jesus also taught, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
Growing into Christlikeness
Ultimately, our mission in life is to grow spiritually, becoming more and more like Jesus. God gives us daily opportunities to grow in the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).
I pray that I will recognize and embrace more of these moments, knowing that even when life feels uncertain, our acts of love and service leave a lasting legacy—on earth and in heaven.
