Christmas: Passengers Stranded, and my Story of Shame

Hi from Boston!
Trust you had a warm memory making family Christmas?!
I was blessed to be here in Boston after only one night sleeping in the Seattle airport. There were so many heart wrenching stories at the airport that my heart had tears. Like the father who was trying to get home to spend Christmas with his 3 young children (after working up North for several months), and the seniors who were sleeping sitting up and the one man whom I noticed had trouble breathing and I called for help. There was the three brides maids that were informed there was "no way there plane could take off" and they missed the wedding. And so many that had been 3 days waiting for flights!
But here is the sad story of my own personal shame. I was in a long line, trying to change a ticket, and a lady, in her late 60's butts in front of me. This long slow moving line (with only two agents serving the entire line) allowed lots of time to chat with others. The women continued to stand in front of me after the gentleman directly ahead of me told her that I was next in line. She spoke broken english and had reported to him that she
was going to see her daughter in Newfoundland. That she was from Russia. I began to study this poor women and noticed her coloring was NOT good. Then I decided the right thing to do was to let her go first,and so I did. But as I waited I noted the attendant was raising her voice and at her and informing her that "a supervisor was coming" to "step to the side"...which she did. The attendant did not proceed with the next in line (me) but waited for the supervisor too. This Russian women then came to me and pleaded with me to use my credit card to buy her an airline ticket and that she would pay me "more cash than the ticket". I paused and my heart leapt to do it, but my head said, "this could be a scam", at that moment the Supervisor arrived and upon hearing the story assured me the women could purchase a ticket with cash. And so I was served then by the other attendant. As I finished my transaction I glanced over and noticed the Russian women approaching someone else to buy her a ticket with their credit card! I quickly ducked passed her and rushed through security. Once safely at my gate I pondered this situation and felt ashamed of how I had dodged her. I spoke about this Russian lady to the traveller  next to me and she too had been approached by the same women. Only she heard the women's daughter in Newfoundland was very sick! Now I felt worse, so I went to speak with the agent that would call us to board the plane. And she informed me they too knew of this women and that she had been over night in the airport and that they could not understand her and had no one who could speak Russian. I asked her to inform the airport security because there must be someone that could help this desperate women and I said "her coloring isn't good, she looks exhausted".
Within 20 min the West Jet attendant came back to inform me they had found an interpreter and sold the women a ticket to Newfoundland. And by the way she added, "you were right in noting her coloring, she has a heart condition". Sigh.
I pondered my behaviour, and asked God to forgive me, and to give me spiritual eyes. To be sensitive and remember to think about "what would Jesus do?" I arrived at the Seattle airport, where the vending machines were reported to be empty, an elderly gentleman limped past me pulling a wagon, shouting "Free soup and beverages for hungry stranded travellers", I smiled, now that is what ...Jesus would do.



-
Maralee Dawn Ministries
maraleedawn@mac.com
Toll Free 1-866-930-1333
Ph. (604) 930-1333

---

Visit messengerbuddies.ca to find out how you could win. Enter today.

New baby Jaxsen and Jordan 8, Jacob 5 and Aliyah 2

Sent from my iPhone Hi here is Jaxsen's first day home yesterday!!
I am flying to Toronto tomorrow morning and will miss all of them! Today I flew to Vancouver,it was a marathon day with snow storm, frigid weather and delayed flights but I made it, on a wing and a prayer you could say! Or many prayers. Sigh.

Jaxsen has arrived...12-12-2008

This really is a year of "new beginings"! our newest grandson Jaxsen arrived yesterday and I held him for the first time today, he was so sweet,with the aroma of heaven and a big boy at 9 lbs! My eyes were misty as I snuggled him close and I felt so very blessed. Each new person, a baby from heaven or a child through marriage, are very precious in our family circle. I stand in awe as I watch it grow, in God's way and in His time. Some of the changes come with great delight and are embraced with joy. And other transtions in our family circle are pure agony ...yet they too are precious gifts that God uses to develope character in us and color in our family unit. Such a work of art, all the threads of pain and joy make the beautiful tapestry we call family. Smile. Big smile. This year ends with...new beginings, joyful new beginings. I will celebrate.

Waiting for a Precious Baby boy to Arrive...

Here I am ready to hope into bed ...but I have my bag packed and ready sitting at the foot of my bed...just in case I get the call tonight. My grandson is due any time now, well actually he is over due! They may call me to come to care for the other 3 children if they need to go to the hospital.So I am on call at anytime!
The first 9 months of this pregnancy the wait seemed like a piece of cake compared to the last about 3 weeks. All the signs were there, that he was coming and then nothing. It was another false alarm, We keep waiting and watching. The close it gets the slower time moves!
It is so much the same as the return of our Lord Jesus. We become disenchanted and desensitized...its so near, but like this baby it seems to never really happen. Yet believe me it will! It won't be long now and we will celebrate the new birth...and on the other hand it won't be long and we will celebrate Christs return The signs are here and the time is soon, and very soon.