I was reading Psalm 145…the Lord is gracious and compassionate slow to anger and rich in love…..I was thinking about how in the world did I end up with a dog? I definitely did not think about the responsibilities. Yet it doesn’t change nor can compare to the joy and blessing that this dog is to me in this time. He is a friend and blessing from God without a doubt! I ask the puppy, happyJ, how did I end up with you? It happened so fast. I think about the first reaction to seeing this poor small puppy that was cold and hungry. I could not help but to pick him up and care for him. Give him a bath and love him. He would fall fast asleep in my arms and he was too vulnerable and cute for me to let him go and try to survive on his own with no mother to feed him milk and no father to protect him. The orphan dog came to the orphanage and was instantly adopted by us all.
As I read God's word I hear this is the call that He has for us all, to be slow to anger, rich in mercy, compassionate and gracious. If I would of thought about all the things that I would have had to do with the dog I would of maybe not gotten involved, although I think it would have been impossible for me to let him go. This happens when we let our worries and fears get in the way of the compassion of God. I think there are times we are not led to do things and other times when the pulling is so strong we cannot help to stretch out our hands to help someone in need.
We recently went for a border crossing to get our visa’s stamped. We have been here over 3 months already! The lady at the Thai end of the border offered us umbrellas because it was sooo hot and we had to cross a bridge. We gladly and gratefully accepted the umbrellas and started to walk. As I started on my way so happy that we had an umbrella, a little boy in a hurry rushed right past me. He was moving pretty fast but there was something that was holding him back from going really fast…it was a huge load on his back bigger than himself. He had to cross the bridge with this load and I’m guessing because of the heat and weight he was just trying to cross as quickly as possible. It was then my heart went out to him and I didn’t know what to do but I was drawn to him. I started walking faster and trying to catch up to him. I was fascinated by this boy and my eyes were stuck on him as I prayed God what do I do? Do I help him? Can I help him…it looked pretty heavy. I can’t even communicate with him. Would I culturally be out of line? Many questions rushing through me but the whole time I’m getting closer and closer and finally I say hello and give him my name.
Doris: “Hi, my name is Doris” J
He started talking in his language
Doris: “Can I help you? This looks heavy.”( I start to lift the load.)
Boy: Firmly in his language he spoke some words and clearly did not want me to touch his load and started walking faster.
I would have given up out of embarrassment but I was drawn to this boy and I knew I was to do something. So I just walked with him and held the umbrella over his head to protect him from the sun. Then he slowed down and before you know it we were walking together and talking but not understanding anything the other was saying. A family we walked by started talking to me about how strong he was and then she asked me if I was Christian? She said she was a believer and had a smirk on her face like she knew I was. By the time we got to the end of the bridge, he left quickly. I thought he did not like me at all and felt maybe I pushed too much to help and maybe I should have left him alone…I followed my heart and left it at that. He might of not wanted my love offering/umbrella but I gave it to him because I clearly could see he needed it. We were at the border of Burma no more than 10 minutes. Walking back to cross the bridge again guess who met me and walked back with me…..His name is William and he brought 2 more friends to walk with us. It seems that it’s their job to lug heavy things back and forth from one end to the other. I laughed along the walk back with them, shared my snacks with them, got their names as well as practiced my Burmese that I had picked up along the way. I told them that Jesus loved them. They laughed at my English but knew what I was saying in Burmese about the Lord. At the end of the bridge we parted and they in unison thanked me with smiles. It was really sweet!
This is your neighbor. The one who you have compassion on, the one who is in need, the one who hasn’t heard, the one who doesn’t have anyone to talk to, the one who needs prayer, the one who is hard and unfriendly. The one who needs to know someone cares. The one who doesn’t know what true love is, the one that Jesus leads you to and puts in front of your path.
God will put people in your path and we are always given an opportunity to show love, kindness and Jesus to the world and each other. We may not be able to talk to everyone, or carry everyone’s load but if we help the one and are listening the ONE who speaks to us and guides us then we will meet many neighbors throughout our lives that the Lord will show his love to.
Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created.
When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me,
and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."
Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink?
When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear
or visit you while you were sick or in jail?"
The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." ~~Matthew 25 :34-40
