You know those people?
The ones who love their neighbor but not in their neighborhood.
Of course I love the less fortunate but not in my neighborhood.
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me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if
there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
The English Standard Version
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The ones who offer their sacrifices and tithe at church with great delight.
And tell everyone about how church must help people in far a way countries, where they don't even know Christ yet.
And tell everyone about how church must help people in far a way countries, where they don't even know Christ yet.
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Always,
love is a choice. You come up against scores of opportunities every day
to love or not to love. You encounter hundreds of small chances to
please your friends, delight your Lord, and encourage your family.
That's why love and obedience are intimately linked- you can't have one
without the other.
Joni Eareckson Tada
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Do you know those other people?
The ones that talk about schmootzers.
The people who claim it's churches place to take care of the poor and needy.
But only of the poor haven't caused their situation.
Only if they're not lazy or criminal or abusing the system.
The ones that say that children would learn about going hungry or working for their food.
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"...our
charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins
in spite of which we love the sinner—no mere tolerance, or indulgence
which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment.
Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your sense."
C. S. Lewis ~ The Weight of Glory
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Maybe you know the ones?
Who give from what they have too much.
I generally try to be kind to everyone I meet. It's not always easy, though.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not. We are humans after all. But I think with practice it becomes a little bit easier at least.
DeleteWe need to be kind to everyone we meet, no matter race, religion, country... etc.
ReplyDeleteWell written. What is that man carrying in that first picture on the stick??
Thank you, Melanie. It is a broom but it has a plastic bag wrapped around so it won't get dirty.
DeleteWe give clothing to the mens shelter in a neighboring town. They are so thankful for everything they receive.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful to hear, Terry
DeleteI am always trying to give stuff that we no longer need to those that would benefit from them. My favorite is giving away our clothes that the kids outgrow. For me, giving makes me feel good.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Stefani. It is good to give.
Deletei try to be kind and gracious to anyone we meet. my feeling is, there's no way to know what someone's life has been like. even if they are nasty to me, how am i to know tragedy hasn't just befallen them and thrown them for a loop? i want my kids to learn by watching how to treat others with kindness
ReplyDeleteThat is very good lesson for them. And we can never know the story behind the person if we don't spend time learning it.
DeleteI try to be kind to others as I hope if I am ever in need they will be kind to me.
ReplyDeleteA very good principle, Candy
DeleteWhat a touching post. I love the C.S. Lewis quote. It is true, it isn't always easy to be kind or generous when personally confronted with those less fortunate than ourselves. I think being confronted with the harsh reality of how poverty affects the ones we can see makes many people uncomfortable. It's much easier to give to a nameless faceless project, if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI love the quote also, Virginia. And yes, I do know what you mean. It is easier to think that suffering exists apart from us, not right next door.
DeleteI have to agree, I see many who are more willing to help outside their communities, and a lot of times just because it's easier. It's so important to help within too! We donate locally every year, and just try and be extra nice to everyone we come across.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I think our posts today are similar and different, but the core of it is helping others and truly helping them.
ReplyDeleteWow, the photo with the military with the guns in the background kind of freaked me out! That's definitely not something I ever see here at home!
ReplyDeleteI have definitely seen this way too often. It's so important to help your own neighbors!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a great thing to help thy neighbor. We take every opportunity that we can to do so. Every little thing adds up, I believe!
ReplyDeleteI always think about hose less fortunate than me. It breaks my heart, the kids who are even in the backpack program in my daughters class. Your photos are breathtaking. The one with the soldiers with the gun go further to highlight just how different Ecuador is from the US! -April
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting look at helping the less fortunate. Too often people only want to help the less fortunate under special circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI have found that others will more easily give to causes that are farther away, and I don't understand this. I get that EVERYONE less fortunate than you needs help but what about the people that are right next to you that need your help. What if you were one of the ones that needed help and your next door neighbor ignored you? That's why I always try to help anyone who needs it if I can, because I never know when I may need THEIR help :)
ReplyDeleteSo, I think this post is just trying to make us feel bad. I give, but I don't need to feel bad for not giving to those who really DON'T need it. Say what you will. I do believe that there are MANY MANY in my "neighborhood" who choose to not make the effort and work and provide for themselves. I do not have any desire to support that. I have two brothers, in fact, who are both living off unemployment and tell me they won't take this or that job because they could make more money on unemployement. It's just wrong! There are teenage kids sitting on every corner in my town "begging" for money. Go get a job!! Who cares if that means you're delivering pizzas, I'm not giving you a handout so you can sit there there with your iphone listening to music and begging for cash. So... yeah, I'm biased. I won't help everyone. It's not feasible to. I will help those who genuinely need it.
ReplyDeleteI agree we should help the poor, but I am only giving to those that truly need it. Here, there are too many people living off the system who could go out and find a job if they really wanted to. I donate money, clothing and my time to help those in my community who are struggling or have children who would otherwise suffer.
ReplyDeleteYou never know what kind of battle others are facing. I'm loving the ecuadorian fedoras those ladies are wearing!
ReplyDeleteI give to the poor and the needy. However, I am not a fan of giving to those who abuse the system. There are people who refuse to work or better themselves who have the means and the ability. It is these I have a problem "supporting." Those who are in need and have not the means or the ability always receive first. I always make it my business to help children because they can't help their situation where some adults can.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a lot of hypocrisy in people. We should give with a giving heart.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult at times being nice to my "neighbors" although I do try to be. I know we're supposed to be but it really can be tough.
ReplyDeletei try my best to respectful to my "neighbors" because I can never know what is going on in their life. some people to make it harder on themselves though
ReplyDeleteI do think we should help others. There are times when we have to make a decision about who to help and who not to- just b/c we each only have limited resources.
ReplyDeleteWe should definitely help others. Life is full of ups and downs for all of us and I'd like to think that someone would help me should I ever need it.
ReplyDeleteSo many are under the impression that it is for someone else to help. The reality is that we have so much poverty and need going on in our very own back doors. If only we could reach out beyond ourselves and take that first step.
ReplyDeleteWhat a well written post. Such a good message. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSome great food for thought here. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is the world we live in unfortunately. I try to treat other like I would like to be treated and that's what we're teaching our kids too!
ReplyDeleteI am a kind person by nature, I don't see being kind as hard work or something to gripe about. I am raising my children to be kid too. The whole "do unto others as you would have others do unto you" mentality is what we live by! Great post.
ReplyDeleteIt's a matter of the heart, isn't it? Christ asked us to love others, and that is what we should do! We need to be open to the needs of those around us (both near and far) and then serve with a sincere heart.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joan
P.S. I noticed that you put my blog link up button in your sidebar...Thank you so much! I see that it came across with the extra writing: "See more at http://" etc. Blogger has been adding that lately, but it is easy to remove. All you do is go to the gadget, click edit, then edit html and then delete that part. :-)
DeleteBlessings! Joan