The Message on the Paper.

Not even five minutes after I leaned my head on the chair to rest,

Our office peon came to tell me that someone came in search of me and gave me a paper that has something written on it.

At the first glance at the paper, it read like this: “We are Deaf and Mute Couple from Chennai. We need to stay here (Room). We need to spend quite time with the Lord, meditate the word and pray.  Maybe for 2-3 weeks and after completing our fasting, we will go back to Chennai. Please let us know”.

That confused me because I still had no idea why they came to the office for that. We have a reception just at the entrance of our compound for guest room booking.

And I tried to use the little sign language I know to communicate with them but failed terribly, the wife asked for a pen & paper (which I was able to figure out) and wrote to me, “Please write to me what you are saying. He is having a low vision and cannot see you clear.”

And I started to write, “You have to go to the receptionist and ask about the prices there…and….”

I felt like writing “This is not the right place “but then I stopped, I erased the last word “and” .

That helplessness on their face pricked me so hard in the heart.

They looked so lost not knowing where the reception could be.

I decided to take them till the Conference Centre reception and help them book a room.

I could not communicate with them on the few second walk but I watched them communicating so well, a mute wife was sharing something which seems to bring a broad smile to her husband who was completely deaf, mute and partially blind.

This scene really moved me beyond expression; I was moved by their Love and compassion.

As I keenly observe them, I saw the husband holding on to the hand of his wife tightly while she communicates by sign language each time.

And then he would nod his head and smile as she keeps going. They so well understand each other.

I have heard so many definition and stories of what Love is and what Love could be.

And Yes, this sight awestruck me to wonder “What heights and depth of LOVE this could be?”

On reaching the reception, the sign board that reads “All Rooms are Booked” disappointed them and me as well.

But I just want to make sure of it so I went to inquire about it again.

Having explained of the situation and the encounter, the receptionist too had a heart for them and she did try her best but all in vain.

The rooms could be availed only from 10 June afternoon as every room is booked for the ongoing meeting.

I keep writing back and forth answering to the questions and details they want to know.

When I wrote back that rooms will not be available until the 10^th of June afternoon. I knew it from my heart that they may be wondering where to put up and how to since they are very new.

The wife than turned to explain, it took almost 10 minutes to decide. She wrote back “Do you have any branches?” I signaled NO and then wrote, “Where will you put up these two days?”

She shrugged her shoulder with a faint smile indicating that “They do not know where and how”

“Where is the Church?” she wrote. I pointed the direction.

“Is it open from 5am-7pm every day?”

 No. I nodded.

Before I could write back she might have got the answer and so she wrote, “Only on Sundays?”

Disapprovingly I nodded “Yes”.

This made me assume that, they might be thinking of spending their two days at the Church.

I wrote to them that I will help them find a room nearby just for the two days stay and told them to confirm the number of days they are to stay in our guest house.

Long discussion with calculations and they wrote back, “Till 30^th June. We will leave for the airport that day. Flight Timing: 1:30pm. Do you have prepaid/Taxi to drop us there?”

“Yes, we will help you get one” I wrote back.

“But the canteen will be closed by 3pm and its already 2:40pm. So come and do the booking after lunch.” She nodded and I took them to the canteen and by the time when I finished explaining to the waiter about them and placed their order, she gave me the same paper with “Thank you for helping us” written somewhere in the midst of the untidy over-written paper which I used for the entire conversation.

That Thank You note seems sweeter and it enlightened my heart.

Looking at it I recall what I shared this morning in the devotion about “HELPING”.

It was from Romans 12: 8 “If it is to encourage, then give encouragement. If it is giving, then give generously. If it is to lead, do diligently. If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”