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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

I don’t know the true narrative, so you get my version based upon what I saw. It was a beautiful evening. People were gathering and there was the typical fair buzz in the air. People were happy! I had mentioned weeks prior to Greggy that this concert is one I would enjoy. It did not disappoint. The concert, a handful of meaningful conversations and one footlong corn dog — “Ahhh,” the celebrations of a fair!

Being a people watcher, I noticed a lady a handful of rows in front of me. I truly only saw her side view and backside to begin with, but I could tell she was a woman filled with compassion, joy and a deep love for her Jesus! Then she turned just enough for me to catch her smile. She beamed. I thought to myself, “That’s the older lady I want to be!” She was a stranger, and yet she made a profound impact on me.

She moved, and I mean her body was dancing, “hands-a-waving,” in a beautiful rhythm, almost as if she was telling a story. Then, what melted my heart and challenged me was the four youth with her. They respected this woman. I guessed one was a grandchild and her friends, but that may not be accurate. Regardless, this woman had earned a space in their lives. To be honest they didn’t “fit in” with most of the concert-going crowd there, but there they were with “grandma.” Not interrupting to those around them, conversations, hugs and waves occurred after some time as the youth left to likely experience more of the fair.

Grandma was locked into the concert. It was loud. She stood and took-in all to be experienced. When she sat; she was still in a spirit of worship. As I observed this “concert” within the concert, I knew I needed to thank her. So when it concluded, I went over to the stranger and thanked her for being a prayer warrior. (based off her posture of worship and interaction with these youth that was my conclusion) It took her a bit aback. “Thank you,” she commented.

As I left I added, “I love that you love those youth! They are our future. They are going to bring revival!” Grandma, you rock; you are my hero. Thank you for reminding me to love well!

“Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.   And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” — Matthew 22: 37-39, KJV

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.