By Sister Maisie Ng
One day, a guest came into the office and asked if I recognized him. I didn’t have my glasses on, and I couldn’t see him clearly without them, so I answered, “No.” But as I handed him a form to fill out, I took a closer look and realized I did know him. I asked, “Did you have open chest surgery recently?” He said yes, that he had been here around Christmas time, which had been especially difficult and dark for him.
He had come to thank me, sharing how deeply the prayer we said together had moved him. He told me it brought him to tears but not tears of sadness — tears of relief and hope. The prayer uplifted him and his life began to improve. He was feeling much better now, filled with hope, and he told me this would be the last time he would need food from us. He was getting back to work, and things were looking brighter for him.
He simply wanted to express his heartfelt gratitude for the prayer and the support he received. His words touched me deeply. They reminded me of how powerful simple acts of kindness can be. His gratitude was like a light shining in my work, giving me new strength and purpose. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget how even the smallest acts — like offering a prayer — can make a huge difference in someone’s life. It was humbling to realize that our moment of prayer helped bring about a change in his heart and life. I also thanked him for his kindness in expressing his gratitude. Not many people take the time to thank others, and it was indeed a blessing to hear his appreciation.
This experience made me think of the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:35-40, where He says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me…” These words remind me that in serving others, no matter how small the act, we are serving Christ Himself. Jesus calls us to lift each other, especially in times of struggle and darkness. Even something as simple as offering a prayer or a kind word, sharing a meal can be a way of serving Him.
This man’s gratitude has given me a renewed sense of purpose in my work. We all need each other in so many ways. In this case, the kindness I showed him was a small thing in my eyes, but it profoundly impacted him. Likewise, his words of thanks and the joy he felt in his recovery have lifted me when I needed it most. It was a reminder that we never know the full impact of our actions on others, but through kindness, we can experience God’s love for one another. Through these moments of kindness — whether we are the giver or the receiver —we experience God’s love working in our lives. This experience taught me that we are all connected, and in lifting one another, we fulfill Christ’s command to love one another as He has loved us. Through small, everyday acts of service, we can truly serve Christ and reflect His love in the world.
