As I've been talking about Christmas with my girls and sharing the story of Jesus' birth with them, I keep thinking about what it would be like if Mary and Joseph came to town today and needed help. What would we do? Would we invite them into our home to help Mary with her delivery? Would we offer them some food and drink? Would we keep our door closed and tell them that we will call 911 to get someone there to help? Would we hand them a slip of paper that tells where there are shelters? I believe that in this time when there are so many people trying to take advantage of us or steel from us, it would be hard to open the front door to our house and let a stranger in. I can't even begin to name all of the stories I've heard of people getting attacked or hurt when they become vulnerable by opening a door or rolling down a window for a stranger. It makes me sick to think of someone's kindhearted gesture turning into a tragedy.
OK, so what can I do to help a person in need? What do I give to the pregnant woman on the street or in the store? How do we teach our kids to love as Jesus did? How do we help strangers without putting ourselves in danger? For me, I want to tell my kids to just stay in the house and play Barbies all day with the doors locked and the windows barred. Ha. Like that would work out. They would be climbing through vents and breaking windows to go outside and enjoy some fresh air and run free! Our purpose in this life is to share the love of God with others and to help save the lost. I know I can't fulfill my purpose locked up in my home. What I have decided at this point in my life and my girls' lives is that I need to lead and teach by example. I can show kindness and love to every person I come into contact with and give what I can to the people in need around us. Open doors for the elderly or handicap. Give clothes that I don't wear that are still in good condition to places that will give them to those in need. Share God's word with the children that I teach at church and invite everyone I can to join me on Sunday mornings. Give a hug to someone who is down. Send a card to a sick friend or relative. Talk to and listen to the kids at the school and look them in their eyes so they will see that they are important enough to stop for. Encourage another mom. Tell a child he/she is special. Instead of buying myself a small useless item, get something for the school or church that can be used by someone other than me. Smile and use kind words. Stop and read a book or listen to a story with my girls even when there is laundry to do or dishes in the sink so that they know that they are important and loved. Do I have to let strangers in my home? Absolutely not. Would God want me to give a ride to someone on the side of the road? Of coarse He wouldn't. But He would want me to be the most caring, loving, accepting, listening, forgiving, giving and sharing person I can be. It doesn't cost money to share God's love in all that I do! Every day. Not just at Christmas time!
To answer the question I first put out there, I would probably keep the door closed and call 911 for help.
What does the Bible Say?:
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galations 6:2
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others"
Philippians 2:4
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment