Four cups of warm water

3:46 p.m. Today's project was to bring some cheer and pampering to an old friend and prayer partner whom I've known since she and her husband were young marrieds and Steve and I were engaged.

She has survived empty nest, menopause, financial struggles, and most recently, breast cancer with surgery, full chemotherapy and radiation treatments. When she came to the door today, she looked very stylish and pretty with her mid-length hairdo. She is having breathing problems, due to the foggy mornings lately, causing constant coughing, which she handles with a nebulizer. Despite it all, she is active in a ministry to a small group of married women and serves her church as hostess extraordinaire for their large fellowship events. She is also head of the workers' food service for the Anaheim Harvest Crusade!

At the news of her and her husband's latest trial, we've had some prayer sessions by phone.  I was pondering what I could do, until the Lord showed me a unique treat she would enjoy: a Mary Kay spa pedicure and facial, complete with a botanical mask treatment!  Jesus said about the way we represent Him with acts of kindness, in Mark 9:41,

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

In this case, the foot basin was full of warm water with a eucalyptus fizzy tablet for a nice softening soak. While we visited, she also enjoyed her facial with a purifying, soothing mask while she scrubbed and smoothed her feet. Like most of us during this hot week, we're wearing sandals and flip-flops and our feet are in dire need of care!!  She loved both "top" and "bottom" treatments, and also got her perfect "matte" foundation match.

We encouraged one another, counseled one another on matters of concern, and laughed like crazy. We prayed for one another, particularly lifting our husbands up. Then it was time for me to go home, blessed, comforted, and even more grateful to Jesus for my friend and the "cups of water" we gave one another today!