A Caring Community
Author:
January 09, 2019
“Give, and it will be given to
you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be
poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to
you.” – Luke 6:38, NIV
Wayne always loved to do
Christmas big. He’d spend hours searching for the perfect gift for his sons and
putting holiday lights on the house. But that wasn’t all he did…he also took
time every Christmas season to volunteer at a local soup kitchen. He brought
his kids along so they could understand how blessed they were.
He organized a group who
provided gifts and stocking stuffers for the kids of single parents. He visited
the homeless, often driving through the streets with an extra hot meal or two
in the passenger seat.
Then came the Christmas when
things changed. Wayne’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. A week later,
Wayne’s company laid him off and the couple lost their health insurance.
Wayne had always been frugal
and the couple had a small fund set aside for a crisis. But even with six
months of savings, Wayne knew it wouldn’t be enough. They’d only be able to
carry the medical costs for a few weeks.
When the news spread, the
community around Wayne moved into action. One couple provided Christmas gifts
for the family. Another supplied their groceries for a month. A single father
that Wayne had helped reached out to him to tell him about a job opening at his
company.
Hardship can happen to anyone.
For you, it might a car accident, unexpected illness, or the loss of a loved
one. But God can sustain you through the pain. He can send a sweet community to
surround you on every side.
God, I’m struggling. It feels like everything’s gone wrong.
I’m worried that You’ve abandoned me and I’m scared. Please comfort me right
now. Send a spirit of peace over me and a loving community to hold onto me. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
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