I started cleaning houses when I was 16, mostly for elderly people. Today my story is about the grumpiest person I’ve ever known, and the most endearing.

Ruth lived in a little house that had stepped straight out of 1970. It had barely aged a day, probably because it never saw the sunlight, tucked behind heavy dark drapes.

Her wizened body was stooped from osteoporosis. She hobbled around her house, determined to do everything possible herself. She had reached her limit though when it came to things like vacuuming and changing her bed sheets, so she reluctantly decided to hire a housekeeper.

I can’t tell you how many times she told me how much she hated people. She complained every time she opened her mouth. Nothing was good enough. Everyone was conspiring against everything. Every week she’d tell me such grouchy stories that when I left her house I’d sit in my car busting a gut laughing.

“Once we had an infestation of pigeons in the neighborhood. One of the guys would go shoot them when they roosted in his garage. It was against the law but none of us turned him in because we hated the pigeons so much.”

But for some reason, Ruth loved me. I became the only person in her life that could do anything right. I helped her with her housework and let her do what she could on her own. It took us about half an hour to change her sheets together. I used to share devotionals that I wrote with her and tell her little things about God. I believe the light of Christ in me attracted her.

I cleaned for her about 4 years before she passed away. She told me once, “I hate people, but I like you.” She recommended me to several friends, including her wonderful, darling neighbors. Little positive comments started coming out of her mouth more as we worked together.

To me, Ruth’s softening proves that God’s word and Jesus’ love really can change hearts. I don’t know that Ruth ever trusted Christ, but I’m thankful God gave me the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to her in a small way.

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