Umbrellas, Shade, And Encounters

"Umbrellas hold a new meaning now..."

I’ve always seen traditional umbrellas as tools to help a person in the rain, but my vision and understanding have expanded.

My brother, who works in construction building houses, restaurants, and remodeling businesses, understands the importance of umbrellas on a larger scale. He knows the help umbrellas can offer in shielding one from the heat, whether it’s a large outdoor tent for tools and construction items or small handheld umbrellas.

Mark is a personable, outgoing, friendly person, and like me, seems to never meet a stranger. He’s always looking for opportunities to help others. He regularly buys extra umbrellas to keep in his truck and to hand out to total strangers. Just his little way of blessing others caught in an unexpected downpour, or in the heat of the day, or to homeless people he may see on the side of the street.

As we were talking, he told me of one miraculous encounter he had had over an umbrella. An elderly woman in a wheelchair struggled at the side of the road along 11th Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Rather than driving past her with his busy day, his heart was tugged with compassion. So, Mark turned back around and parked his truck. While climbing out, he grabbed an umbrella and approached the elderly woman. “Ma’am, can I help you get across the street. Do you need anything?” He asked while opening the parasol and handing it to her. She declined his help but thanked him for the gift. “Are you sure?” He pressed again. She replied that she was fine.

"My brother, Mark, never meets a stranger..."

Walking back to his truck, another couple had observed this kind gesture and engaged Mark briefly in conversation. And he explained that he just kept umbrellas in his truck for blessing others, and that God moved on him to offer one to the woman.

As the three turned back to the corner where the elderly woman was, they inhaled a breath! “Where is she?” In those short seconds or minutes, she had disappeared: woman, wheelchair, umbrella, and all! And in that moment, Mark said, “I knew that I had a divine encounter with God and one of His angels! I somehow felt like God had tested my heart in that moment, and that He was smiling on me.”

Mark is forever marked by that encounter, and now he looks for opportunities to simply follow God’s heart of kindness and generosity, even if it’s just handing out an umbrella!

"You might have an angelic encounter too..."

Thinking of shade and divine encounters, I’m reminded of an Old Testament story about Abraham. While residing in tents and the area of the oaks of Mamre, Abraham saw three strangers approaching. He quickly invited them to rest under the shaded trees from the heat of the day to enjoy a meal and refreshment before continuing their journey. He and his wife quickly prepared a meal and offered these strangers refuge and a blessing under the shaded oak trees. Little did either Abraham or Sarah know they were encountering angels and the LORD Himself in that moment. For after that was when they were both told a year from that day, they would finally be holding their miracle son of promise, Isaac!

From now on, I may have to be quick to offer a stranger respite from the heat with an umbrella, shade, water, or food. You just never know when you might encounter an angel or the Lord Himself, and you won’t want to miss any blessing in store!

Kindness to strangers is something God smiles upon!

Beloved:

I am always watching over you and delight when you follow My lead. Even the smallest acts of kindness, generosity, or giving to others are observed by Me. And what you do to the least of these is as though you have done it for Me. It blesses My heart when you are quick to help others, and just know that your reward is great in Heaven.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

“He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way…” (Genesis 18:3-5)

“Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son.” (Genesis 18:5)