"There is nothing that you have ever given to anyone that God did not give to you first." I heard this statement years ago and it has always stayed with me. I think it is important for me to remember this. It keeps one from feeling prideful in the quest to do good.
Over the years, my husband and I have had various people stay with us. Now, I know that's not an uncommon thing. We all take turns having family or friends stay for visits in our homes. But I have had a habit of saying...okay...to longer terms of stay. Recently I pondered why we have done that and one answer came to me. We've been blessed with enough and therefore need to care for others as well.
My first foray into opening our home came when my daughter was a junior in high school. My daughter's good friend's parents were offered a job in another location and needed to relocate. Her friend was thriving in high school and wanted to finish her junior and senior years here in the vocal music and band programs. We made up a guest room and she lived with us for a year and a half. It was a transition for everyone but we made it work and enjoyed getting to know each other as a family.
A couple years later, a foreign exchange student ( in the ESL program ) at the school I worked needed a new placement and host parents. The family she began with ended up not working out. I got a call from her coordinator late one night and asked if we would consider housing her for her remaining stay, approximately 6 months. I asked my husband and we agreed. Her home country was China. We got to know each other and became close. It is a relationship that has continued through the years.
Following that, there was a student in my classroom the last two years of my teaching career. He needed a home as his foster care placement was not working out for him or his foster parents. Once again my very patient husband agreed and he came to live with us for about two years before he began independent living. During his time with us he became part of our family and we gave him care as such.
The beginning is always a honeymoon period with the novelty of the change. But a couple months into the situation, the newness has worn off and true family living occurs. Still, I strongly believe that if one has been blessed, then they need to share those blessings with others. I looked up various verses in the bible that reference this sentiment. The idea shows up in various ways. My favorite is in 1 Chronicles 29:14 King David is talking about the fact that all things are given to man from God. "...Everything we have has come from you, and we give only what you first gave us." Amen King David.
Now, I am not saying that God simply says, "Presto! You get a house! Shazam! Here's some cash!" No, hard work on the individual's part comes into play. But God provides those opportunities throughout our lifetimes and we must choose how we use the resources.
I encourage everyone to think honestly about the blessings God has afforded them, as we enter into the holiday season this year. How have you been loved and cared for by God and others through God's provisions? How can you now bless others? I pray this idea speaks to someone as we all begin the self examination of what we are thankful for this fall season.
No comments:
Post a Comment