The Cold Glass of Water

from A MountainWings Moment#7051
by Tim McGill, Director of Environmental Service, Walker
Baptist Medical Center, JasperAlabama and Pastor,
Junior High Students, Sumiton Church of God,
Sumiton, Alabama


About four years ago I was a missionary in Honduras. My wife
and three-year-old daughter were with me as we traveled to
remote areas building medical clinics. We accomplished most of
the work during the summer months when school was out in the
States.

At times we would have one group get on an airplane to leave
the country and have another group get off an airplane to start
back on a project. We would assist the new group getting into a
hotel to rest after the long trip and then while they rested, go
back to our little house and do laundry, cut the yard and load up
to head back to the mountains for the next one or two weeks.

It was during one of these between group prep times that I had a
MountainWings Moment.I was running on just a few hours of sleep,
and it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside. My grass was
almost knee high and all I had to cut it with was a line trimmer,
or as we call it, a “weed eater.” However difficult it was, I was
blessed to have the line trimmer. Most of my neighbors used
machetes and a crooked stick to cut their yards.

I had been cutting for some time when I noticed a small boy
leaning on my security fence. It was common for beggars to come
to my fence and even go through my trash looking for something
to eat. I must admit, I had a lot to do and I was ignoring the
little boy. He just kept standing there. He was dirty and wore
only a little pair of tattered shorts. I was covered with cut grass,
hot and had too much to do before getting back out in the field to
be bothered with giving handouts. The group would be waiting.

Finally, I had to take a break, and I walked over to the little
boy and sat down near him. He looked up at me with his dirty
little face and asked “Papa, (Spanish for Father/Priest) may I
have a cup of water.” Immediately Matthew 10:42 came to my
mind.

Here I was, so caught up in missions work, I had forgotten
the mission. I went in, got one of our best glasses (not one of the
usual paper cups reserved for such occasions), and filled it with
ice and water. I took it to the little boy and watched him as he
savored every last drop. He then handed me the glass; and with
a smile as big as his face, he said,“Thank you and God bless you
Father.”

No, I’m not a priest or even Catholic, but he gave me the
highest salutation he could think of.

We continued on with the group that had arrived that day and
numerous others who had come with a heart to help the Honduran
people, but I have never looked at things the same way since
that encounter with the cold glass of water.

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have
entertained angels unawares.



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