BE LIKE STEVE. SHOW UP AND MAKE IMPACT.
Oct 22, 2021A MOMENT THAT CHANGED ME
About four years ago, I was having a really hard time adjusting. Being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom and having a new baby after multiple miscarriages was not an easy season for me. I found myself seeking an escape. Starbucks became my refuge when my husband got home from work. The smell of coffee and the cozy atmosphere helped me relax and inspired me to write. One day, as I sat there trying to focus on work, I was lost in my thoughts and the noise in my head. That’s when Steve, a kind stranger, appeared. He leaned in and mouthed something. I took out my earbuds. He asked if he could sit with me, and I gladly made space for him. As we introduced ourselves, I noticed something different. Steve greeted almost everyone who came in—with genuine affection. They all seemed to feel seen and cared for by him.
A DIVINE INTERRUPTION
Our conversation started slowly but was often paused by others stopping to hug Steve or say hi. Even in the interruptions, his words spoke directly to my heart. He gently uncovered the very things I hadn’t said out loud. He talked to me about what it meant to be a new mom, to homeschool, to still make space for myself as a woman. It was like he had read my journal—but it was really just the Spirit speaking through him. The coffee shop eventually quieted down. Steve complimented my smile and told me not to ever let it fade. He poured out life lessons I didn’t even know I needed. When we said goodbye, he told me that I had “sharpened his pencil” that day. That moment felt like a hug from a father. A message from the heart of God. I walked out to my car, sat down, exhaled deeply, and cried. I didn’t realize how much I needed that encounter.
THE FOLLOW-UP I DIDN’T EXPECT
A week later, I returned to Starbucks, excited to see Steve again. But I walked into a space full of sadness. Steve had passed away. He had been sick—something I would never have known. My heart sank. I was grateful for that one encounter, but I regretted not accepting the invitation he offered. He had invited my husband and me over for dinner with his family. He wanted to pour into “young married people.” I never got to say yes. It felt like I lost something I didn’t quite get to have yet. But even in his absence, Steve’s impact stayed with me.
THE REFLECTION
That brief interaction changed something in me. It made me pause and reflect: Do I leave people feeling the way Steve left me? Do I offer presence, wisdom, peace? Do I make people feel seen? Am I showing up as the gift God created me to be?
THE INVITATION
I want to live like Steve lived. I want to be fully present. I want to give what I have without waiting for the perfect moment. I want to make my everyday encounters count for eternity. So I ask you—what do people take away from being around you? When you walk into a room, what remains when you walk out? Let’s relentlessly release who God created us to be and allow the Holy Spirit to guide every interaction.
WITH HONOR AND LOVE
Thank you, Steve, for sharpening my pencil. Your impact will never be forgotten.
What an honor to be on Steve’s to-do list for God before he left the earth.
xo, QianaNicole
About four years ago, I was having a really hard time adjusting. Being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom and having a new baby after multiple miscarriages was not an easy season for me. I found myself seeking an escape. Starbucks became my refuge when my husband got home from work. The smell of coffee and the cozy atmosphere helped me relax and inspired me to write. One day, as I sat there trying to focus on work, I was lost in my thoughts and the noise in my head. That’s when Steve, a kind stranger, appeared. He leaned in and mouthed something. I took out my earbuds. He asked if he could sit with me, and I gladly made space for him. As we introduced ourselves, I noticed something different. Steve greeted almost everyone who came in—with genuine affection. They all seemed to feel seen and cared for by him.
A DIVINE INTERRUPTION
Our conversation started slowly but was often paused by others stopping to hug Steve or say hi. Even in the interruptions, his words spoke directly to my heart. He gently uncovered the very things I hadn’t said out loud. He talked to me about what it meant to be a new mom, to homeschool, to still make space for myself as a woman. It was like he had read my journal—but it was really just the Spirit speaking through him. The coffee shop eventually quieted down. Steve complimented my smile and told me not to ever let it fade. He poured out life lessons I didn’t even know I needed. When we said goodbye, he told me that I had “sharpened his pencil” that day. That moment felt like a hug from a father. A message from the heart of God. I walked out to my car, sat down, exhaled deeply, and cried. I didn’t realize how much I needed that encounter.
THE FOLLOW-UP I DIDN’T EXPECT
A week later, I returned to Starbucks, excited to see Steve again. But I walked into a space full of sadness. Steve had passed away. He had been sick—something I would never have known. My heart sank. I was grateful for that one encounter, but I regretted not accepting the invitation he offered. He had invited my husband and me over for dinner with his family. He wanted to pour into “young married people.” I never got to say yes. It felt like I lost something I didn’t quite get to have yet. But even in his absence, Steve’s impact stayed with me.
THE REFLECTION
That brief interaction changed something in me. It made me pause and reflect: Do I leave people feeling the way Steve left me? Do I offer presence, wisdom, peace? Do I make people feel seen? Am I showing up as the gift God created me to be?
THE INVITATION
I want to live like Steve lived. I want to be fully present. I want to give what I have without waiting for the perfect moment. I want to make my everyday encounters count for eternity. So I ask you—what do people take away from being around you? When you walk into a room, what remains when you walk out? Let’s relentlessly release who God created us to be and allow the Holy Spirit to guide every interaction.
WITH HONOR AND LOVE
Thank you, Steve, for sharpening my pencil. Your impact will never be forgotten.
What an honor to be on Steve’s to-do list for God before he left the earth.
xo, QianaNicole
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