You Know Their Father
Staying at home has certainly allotted plenty of time to go back and read some old journals.
Transparency is a bit painful for me, but heals and often helps others, so here it is: about 22 years we didn’t have much money to spend on gifts. (kinda like NOW)
So I had a “gift closet” and would purchase nice things at a good price when I saw them.
It was the season of baby showers. It seemed that I went to one or two every month.
A theater was showing, “Annie,” to children for free with any donation to The Children’s Shelter. Matlin would really enjoy that, I thought.
So I went to my gift closet and pulled out a very nice baby towel and wash cloth set that I had purchased for an upcoming shower for the baby of parents who I knew well. I remember thinking it was expensive at the time.
But under it I saw a much thinner, less expensive set. So I put down the expensive set thinking, “It’s ok to give to this one to The Children’s Shelter since I don’t really know the parents.”
As I reached for the less expensive set, I had a deep impression in my heart.
A voice, not audible, but real…
“You know their Father….”
Everything seemed to freeze in time. I put back the cheaper set and donated the nicer one.
Every one of us is a child of God. No one more important than another.
During this pandemic, I have seen great acts of selfishness and great acts of unselfishness.
But what others do or don’t do is not my concern.
I am my concern. Am I thinking daily about how I might help God’s other children? What about an elderly neighbor? A lonely friend? A stranger?
The least of these…
Who is “the least of these?” It could be a family member. The unlikable. The prisoner. The taker.
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’”
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25: 34-40)
God doesn’t tell us to be vulnerable friends with dishonest or delusional persons. He tells us to be wise.
But it does mean that in whatever circumstance God gives me to help “the least of these,” I pray that I do so.
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,’ When you have it with you.’” (Proverbs 3:27, 28)
Do not withhold…
Who has been on your mind? Call them. Text them. Who is among the working poor whose finances are being depleted. Give. Who might be lonely? Write them a letter. Who could use your kindness or gift who could never repay?
You know their Father.
