Sandy Niedens had the good fortune of growing up in a Christian home. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age in a small mission church sponsored by Mabel White Baptist Church in Macon.

In 1982 Sandy married Doyle Niedens. They lived in seven states during their 21-year marriage before moving back to Macon in 1998, where they joined Mabel White Church.

Niedens is a perky blonde who works as a dental hygienist. Doyle describes her as bubbly, friendly and assertive - a doer and a giver.

 

An act of kindness

Earlier this year the Niedens were traveling to Kansas to visit Doyle's father, who was experiencing health problems, and stopped to eat at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. As they sat Sandy noticed a woman at a table with a rather forlorn look on her face and told the waitress that she wanted to pay for the woman's meal.

This act of kindness is not uncharacteristic of Sandy Niedens. She is always sensitive to the divine appointments that God seems to provide in her life. She is particularly moved with compassion when she goes to restaurants and sees women who are seated alone or with children.

She believes that acts of kindness demonstrate the love of Christ. She explained, "It's easy to look into someone's eyes and see loneliness or need."

Eventually, the recipient of Sandy's kindness finished her meal and approached the Nieden's table and inquired, "May I ask a question? Why did you buy my dinner?"

Sandy replied, "It is just something I enjoy doing."

The woman began to cry and explained, "I came in here to eat my dinner, get in my car, and drive down the road and off a bridge."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Niedens inquired.

Amidst her sobbing, the woman continued, "I have lost my job. I have no money. I have nobody. I am all alone and I was going to take my life."

 

Caring for another

The woman, wiping away her tears, admitted, "I was praying, 'Dear God, if there is anyone in the world who cares anything for me ...' and at that point the waitress came over and told me that someone wanted to pay for my meal."

The grateful woman added, "Your expression of love has shown me that somebody cares about me and I wanted to give each of you a hug."

Sandy responded, "Oh yes, and Jesus always cares for you."

The Niedens shared the gospel with the grateful woman, gave her some money and urged her to find a Bible-believing church to attend.

God's people must remember that every meal, every meeting, every contact with another soul, is a divine appointment. Seize the moment! Cause people to ask you to give a reason of the hope that is within you (I Peter 3:15).