My niece has a beautiful little girl named Olivia. She is in elementary school and recently began having trouble eating in the cafeteria. The crowd seemed to overwhelm her to the point where she had to eat lunch with the school nurse. My niece tried everything she could think of to coax Olivia into the cafeteria at lunch time, all to no avail.
As a last resort, my niece said, "Olivia, just think about the other children in the cafeteria who are going through such difficult times. Some children's parents are divorcing while others don't have enough food to eat. Their school lunch is the best meal of their day." With that the wheels of Olivia's brain began to turn her attitude around. Of all the words my niece had said and all the discipline she had tried, these were the words that got her thinking. Pondering the needs of her class mates, Olivia's fear began to subside and soon she was back in the cafeteria. Her fear had turned to compassion; adding a little more salt to the cafeteria.
Ladies, times are tough and sometimes it's tempting to retreat. But you and I are the salt of the earth and quite possibly the only hope some will ever see. Look around at others in need and lend a helping hand. My husband has been doing a lot of maintenance jobs for others lately since he is no longer on the road. He recently helped put up a fence for a woman who's husband abandoned her and her three children and is helping with the upkeep of another woman's home as she goes through a painful divorce.
It is vital that we support one another in time of need for it is a beautiful reflection of Christ. A card, phone call, email, or plate of cookies can do a world of good. Sprinkle a little salt and watch God work His magic. My dad has faithfully gone to church for over 50 years all because a man from a local church brought him an envelop of money to help our family after we lost everything in a devastating tornado. That helping hand touched him like nothing else could in his time of need. It literally changed his life.
Who can you sprinkle a little salt on today?
“You are the salt of the earth."
Matthew 5:13a
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"
1 John 3:17
3 comments:
This is so true. My father left our family when I was 7yrs old & my mom, a housewife with no degree, no job & literally no money, had to find a way to raise three children on her own. Our refrigerator broke shortly after this time & 3 days later a new one was delivered to our door. It seems that a family friend had called & I told him it was broken. He hung up the phone & ordered one straight away. I can't remember that telephone conversation but I have never forgotten my mom's coversation with this wonderful man. She didn't say that she couldn't accept it or that she would find a way to pay him back, she simply thanked him & said she would help someone else in need in return. Well, she has spent her life doing just that. It has always reminded me that we should receive God's gifts to us from others as well as give. God bless, Kristin
What a beautiful reminder - so glad your niece's daughter was able to overcome and share compassion with her peers.
What a wonderful post, Nancy. Thanks for sharing those stories -- what a testimony to the way God works in our lives!
Post a Comment