“A Benevolent Pink Towel”

A Whisper from God

In the heart of a little girl, I found a blessing attached to obedience as the summer I turned thirteen came and went with the gentle whisper of God leading me, gifting me wisdom and grace in a simple act of obedience…

I was thinking about a time in life when, even though you’re poor and have little—or you’re young and don’t know much—God still provides ways for you to be a blessing. That blessing can come as unexpectedly as asking you to give your very best. Maybe, like me, it was in the form of a little pink hand towel. And in that gesture, I honored a man of God. whom I did not yet know was a pastor. I respected the authority of my God and I gave with the pureness of my heart, knowing it was the best that I had to give. I could have given him the dirty rag from the kitchen, but God said, “Give your best.” I hesitated because instinctively in my heart, I knew that giving the kitchen towel just wasn’t good enough to give somebody and I didn’t want it to cause harm, like germs. So I stopped and I asked, “God, what do I do?” And my thought was, if I give him the little pink towel I’ve been saving like a treasure, then it will be ruined. And my daddy gave that to me and I was saving it. But in my heart, I knew not to be selfish. I really didn’t need to ask God. I probably already knew in my heart, but I stopped and asked because I didn’t want to do the wrong thing. And God whispered and answered, “Give your best.” So I did.

When I gave Mr. Hodges, Mr. Liam Hodges, that little pink towel, he said, “Oh no, I can’t use that. I’ll ruin it.” And I exclaimed in my little girl voice at barely thirteen, “But you have to, God said to give you my very best.” And he paused and looked at me and he asked, “He did?” And I said, “Well, didn’t He?” I framed it like a question in fear he would know that God really talks to me. And I didn’t know then if somebody—a grownup—would even accept the fact that a little kid hears from God. I did not yet know he was a pastor.

Later, Clark—Mr. Hodges, Dr. Hodges, because Liam Hodges was a doctor—said to his son to invite me to church. And he had actually written a sermon that was prompted by my kind gesture and how God, as kingly as He is, gave honor to a man called of god, to a man of the cloth, by having a little girl give him her very best. That God does care about the little things as much as He cares about the big things. And that when you give out of the pureness of your heart, there comes blessings attached to that gifting, that offering, that benevolence of love—a love that supersedes the hearts and minds of others who need to know God’s special anointed favor to them matters and can be given in even the smallest ways, because God honors those who choose Him and choose to serve Him.

And in this case, God used me as a little girl to show Him honor, even in something as small as that little pink towel. And in doing so, imparted in my heart that man’s favor. And later, he gave me some of his daughter Barbie’s gently used items that she didn’t need nor want. And they were a treasure to me—a gift offering in return for the kindness I showed him. And he acknowledged me in the sermon, and it really touched my heart and I was really grateful.

And though that particular summer was unlike any I’d ever experienced, it was the first summer I ever spent with my dad, James David, who was affectionately known as JD. And he sang beautiful songs of reverie and funny humor out of the little things he would ask us kids. And I got my first kiss. Clark gave me a kiss full of birthday cake, and it was the sweetest little gift. And I blushed like a little girl. It was his birthday, and he had brought in his birthday cake to the house to share it, and his dad had arrived with a cut hand—Mr. Liam, Dr. Pastor Liam Hodges. And that’s how I came to know that he needed the pink towel. And God had given me the opportunity to bless a man of God and honor him and his place and position, though I did not yet know, and allowed me to receive a blessing in kind for my offering and my willingness to be obedient and self-sacrificing for the sake of someone else.

I was recently gifted the honor and grace of a provision by a dear sister in the faith who saw a need I could not meet. In the passing of my youngest son, Timothy, this last September, I did not have the funds to provide for his cremation. She bestowed a gift on my behalf that allowed me and my little family, closure and the ability, as his only living parent, to give him his final act on this earth with dignity. This tender act reminded me of the moment with the little pink towel — that through her gifting, her benevolence toward me, I was given a blessing to provide for my son. She honored me, a sister in Christ, by meeting a need I could not fulfill. To Mrs. Laura, I am deeply grateful and profoundly honored to call her my sister in Christ Jesus. Amen !

Scriptures:

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” — Mark 18:4
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” — Psalm 84:11
“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favor as with a shield.” — Psalm 5:12
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40
“Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” — Deuteronomy 5:33

“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”— Proverbs 24:26 (NIV)

Closing Reflection:
Today, as you read this, I wonder… What is your heart’s posture toward God? Are you listening to His whispers? What small act of obedience could He be asking of you today?

Maybe God has already attached a blessing to your obedience, even in ways you haven’t noticed yet. I would love for you to share your story in the comments — how has God spoken to you and blessed your heart when you chose to obey?

A Whispered Closing

For months I tried to write this blog, only to have it simply not reflect what i believed god wanted me to convey. Five drafts. Yet nothing felt right.
God knew. His timing was perfect.
It took more than my own hands —
it took Laura’s kindness,
and it took James’s generous heart,
giving beyond his means,
so I could see Timothy
and spend his final days with him.

I had no idea Timothy’s recent passing,
just weeks ago,
would find its place here.
None of it was planned.
And yet — suddenly — every word came.

This story is proof:
God works quietly,
His timing flawless,
His grace weaving loss, love, and kindness
into something beautiful.

Extended Closing for “A Benevolent Pink Towel” (or reflection following it):

I still marvel at how something so small — a simple pink towel — could carry such weight, such tenderness, and such divine timing. What began as a childhood memory, a moment tucked away in the heart of a thirteen-year-old girl, somehow found its way back to me as a fifty-year-old woman.

I couldn’t have written this sooner — not because I didn’t try, but because it wasn’t time. God had a moment appointed, a perfect intersection where loss, gratitude, and kindness would meet. Through Laura’s selfless gift and James’s generous heart, He showed me that His timing is not delayed — it’s divine.

And so I rest in awe. The same God who whispered to a little girl decades ago is still writing the story now, thread by thread, memory by memory, until the picture of His love is complete.

For everything truly is beautiful in its time.

—Spring Lynn Booth

From my quiet heart to yours , may you hear His whisper…

— by: Spring Lynn Booth

http://whispers-in-the-quiet.org
Email: Hopeministries2010@yahoo.com
FB Page: A Box of Sox Ministry LLC.
My URL: https://gravatar.com/springlynnbooth

Whispers In The Quiet

recent posts

about