The shop owner’s broom manager
What is the net effect of living according to God’s picture? This is the answer: 12If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.
How I wish this could be said about my life. I wish my life could be a picture in which others could see the glory of Jesus. Almost like Hendrik’s story from the Free State. Jesus’ glory is written all over it:
One morning as I was opening up my workshop at 07:15 I was thanking God for my health and for still experiencing his peace and joy.
My first client walked in with a Wimpy coffee complaining that it no longer tasted like the coffee of old. Another acquaintance came in on his way from the butcher chewing on a piece of biltong, grumbling as if it was a battle to be alive.
Wealthy people complained of stuff being too expensive. The biltong man said there’s hardly any meat on the shelves. Someone else complained about stale bread and another one about the cold hamburger that he would like to push down a certain fast-food restaurant manager’s throat.
To all these people complaining so much I want to describe something that happened that same day.
While the one guy was complaining about his cold hamburger, I saw an old homeless man digging through the butcher’s refuse bags. I kept on watching him searching through the bags: When he found something, he would smell it, take a bite and swallow. Without chewing.
“Good morning”, I said. “What’s your name?’’
“My name is Abraham, boss”, he said.
“What are you doing so early in the morning with the rubbish, Abraham?” I wanted to know.
“I’m hungry, boss”, was the simple response.
“But, Abraham, this stuff is rotten”, I pointed out the obvious.
“I know, boss, but the Lord hasn’t given me anything yet. Maybe He’s angry at me.”
“Abraham, why don’t you ask for money if you want to buy something to eat?
“I did, boss, but that man – pointing to the biltong eater – nearly hit me just now. He chased me away.”
“How old are you, Abraham?” I asked.
“78, boss.”
“Where do you stay, Abraham?” I asked.
“On the mountain.” (8 km away.)
“And your family, Abraham?”
“My wife stays with me, but she can’t walk anymore, so she can’t get out of the house.”
“Do you have a pension, Abraham?” I go on.
“No, boss, not yet. But Mandela will make a plan. So, I’m just waiting for him.” Abraham’s pants, shirt and shoes are hardly recognisable as pieces of clothing.
“Lord, what now?” I ask under my breath, but there’s no answer.
“Abraham, I don’t think the Lord has forgotten you,” I say at last.
“Yes, boss.” His old eyes glazed and dim. His neck bowed, because for years now he could only see right in front of him. The refuse lorry came to remove the rubbish bags and the men shouted at Abraham to go away.
“Where will you go now, Abraham?” I wanted to know as he shuffled away.
“I’m going to look for bread to take home, boss. I’ve got a bottle for water.” Abraham’s mouth disappears in the folds of a smile.
“If the boss wants, I can drive a broom and sweep this place nice and clean for a piece of bread.”
And I thought to myself: Is it You speaking through Abraham?
“Abraham, are you sure you have license to drive a broom?” I want to know.
“Yes, boss. My wife gave it to me when her legs got sick.”
“That’s good, Abraham. Today the Lord gave you a big job. From today you will be general broom manager. The broom will give you coffee instead of water. A manager must also be dressed in clean clothes and have some money for the wife at home. I can see you’re a man who’s going to teach us a lot about life in future, Abraham.”
“Can I come every day, boss?”
“Yes, Abraham. And on Fridays broom managers get a nice Wimpy breakfast and they don’t have to work so late, because broom managers need to spend time with their ill wives too.”
“That’s good, boss. I see the Lord had another plan today and I nearly thought He had forgotten about me and the old woman. Sorry, Lord, Abraham didn’t know.”
Do yourself and other people a favour today: Just try for one day not to complain about something, because today Abraham was such an inspiration. Today I found a worthy broom manager! Now when I feel the pressure of life, I look at my broom manager and know: I have nothing to complain about …
Hendrik van der Linde is a workshop owner in the Free State.
Scripture
To think about
Do you show Jesus’ glory?
How can you do it better?
Are you prepared to be available when the Lord wants to make a difference through you?
Prayer
Lord, may your Name be glorified in my attitude and conduct. Please open my mind’s eye so that I can see what You want me to see. Amen.
