People tell me things. I guess if I have a spiritual gift, that's it. I have had numbers of homosexual people "come out" to me, often for the first time. I have heard lots of "life stories" from perfect strangers.

An older lady came into where I work last Friday, looking for some information on how to look up a surgeon to do her upcoming knee replacement. She had several other medical problems, and wanted someone who could work with her on those. That's not uncommon. What was uncommon was that she ended up talking...about her dead son. He had cystic fibrosis, but became a lawyer and had a good life in spite of it. He died at 38 years old, not from CF, but from colon cancer. His mother was in the beginning stages of writing a book about her son's life. The conversation ended up lasting over an hour. She didn't cry, but she told me a lot about her son when he was little, and all about him. I wasn't about to tell her to be quiet. I have a son myself.

So there weren't any prayers or blessings or anything. But I was thinking later that perhaps it was a form of ministry, and maybe that's why I was finally called.

Number Seven, I have often said the greatest gift you can give to your fellow man is to give back the gift of your presence. By giving her the gift of your presence, you blessed her with peace of mind. You blessed her with a listening heart. You blessed her by your silent understanding and compassion for her circumstances. You blessed her by validating that her son's existence on this planet was not in vain, or for naught. And you have blessed us by your testimony and with your presence....God's Love and Peace....To`na Wanagi

Dear Number Seven,


I agree with To`na. Being a minister demands more than preaching the word of God, it also requires living it!
In truth, I doubt this is your only spiritual gift, but like most of us, what comes naturally to us is often taken for granted by us as normal and nothing special. If this were true though, the world would not be in the state it finds itself today.
Rejoice dear Sister, for you are blessed with the beaconing light of God, the patience to listen, and the heart to share, and the spirit of sympathy. (That’s just the few I know of about you! ).

God’s blessings,

Rev. Campbell

You gave of yourself in the love of God to this person. You gave for her needs. This is the will of God. To love one another and to give for the needs of one another. Your reward was the good "feeling" "joy" you had for spending the time with this person and having helped her and seeing she felt better by your giving of self.

In principle it is similar to the parable of the "Good Samaritan." Think of those who would not have spent the time with her, thinking their business was more important than giving to one in need. The parable speaks not only of who was righteous and did the will of God, but also spoke of the unrighteous who did not do the will of God.

In the love of God,

DW Suiter

I feel that I understandabout this and its a great gift - to listen to others instead of talking talking all the times about yourself - you gave the other person your attention and your time - two most prescious and these days rare commodities - to stop and listen, to let someone else share their lifes story, whether its a happiness or a sadness they wish to talk to somebody about... todays worlds so busy, it is a blessing when somebody stops to care and share , thanks for also reminding me that in my ministry whatever its about or becoming to be that to emperthise with another person in need is indeed the morale story of the good samaritan made true again today, amen x