Room for Love and Faith: The Shunammite's Blessing

A Blessed Encounter

It’s uncanny that I remember the first time I heard the name, Shunammite. I was standing at the cashier’s counter, making a purchase in a gift shop in Helena, Alabama. The cashier, who was also the owner of the gift shop, was not only courteous but also pleasantly chatty. She said she was like the Shunammite woman; God blessed her to own and operate the small business. With an aura of conviction and pride, she stated the shop was a Shunammite’s blessing.

I’m sure I nodded my head several times to acknowledge I was listening to her. As she totaled up my purchases, she continued to talk about the Shunammite, a Bible character, who I later learned, was also “the great woman of Shunem.”

This conversation and exchange occurred more than just a few years ago—maybe as many as ten or twelve years ago. Of all the things she said, I only remember the detail about the store being a real Shunammite’s blessing from God. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what the cashier looked like—her hair color, if she wore glasses, or if she was tall or short. I also don't remember the items I purchased.

But I do recall the shop’s location. The charming little shop was next to a pharmacy on Highway 61 in Shelby County. The name of the shop also eludes me, but some of the items in the store included: beautiful silver bracelets, necklaces, and earrings along with colorful scarves and many charming whatnots. It was the kind of quaint shop that was intriguing to browse on a lovely, summer day. People who know me know it wasn’t unusual for me to stop and browse such a store on my hour commute home from Montevallo to Hueytown. Occasionally, I would discover and purchase odd pieces of jewelry when I frequented such stores. Perhaps I bought several pieces of jewelry from her also. I wasn’t a big fan of scarves.

“Are you familiar with the Shunammite story?” she asked.

“No,” I replied.

She neatly packaged my items and tied a beautiful ribbon around the paper bag to add her special, personal touch. It’s strange, but I remember a bright colored bow—perhaps pink. I remember the bow but not the contents of the bag. I guess I was impressed that she took the time and looped the ribbon just right to make a pretty bow for the paper bag.

I’m sure I told her I wanted to read the story because she gave me a small piece of paper with the Scripture, 2 Kings 4: 8 – 37, written on it. I shoved the paper into my cluttered purse. Needless to say, I didn’t read the story that night or the next. A month or so later, I searched for the little piece of paper. You guessed it; I didn’t find it. Undoubtedly, I accidently discarded it with some old supermarket or department store receipts.

I’m reasonably sure the friendly and personable store owner didn’t disclose what she did, achieved, or sacrificed to liken herself to the Shunammite woman in that she received a special blessing. Knowing I had 30 more minutes of driving time, I probably didn’t ask her any questions.

Researching and reading the story, after almost twelve years, I discovered that a Shunammite is a resident or native of the ancient town of Shunem. The Bible tells the story about an anonymous Shunammite woman who was very generous and giving to Elisha, a prophet of God. Because of her generosity and faith, she received a special blessing, a Shunammite’s blessing. Although the Bible doesn’t use the phrase, “Shunammite’s blessing,” the phrase is commonly used to refer to the unexpected, extraordinary blessing of the anonymous Shunammite woman.