FRIENDS IN HARD TIMES
One month after her surgery Anne
entered into the familiar storefront meeting
room. All her old friends were there but
they treated her differently.
She looked pale and weak, not the
funny, fearless person they knew pre-surgery. They smiled politely and got
involved in other conversations, leaving Anne out. What was going on?
The Holy Spirit told me they were
afraid. They were used to a person who looked healthy, was strong and wise. She was still the same wise person, but physically she
didn’t look healthy and strong like before. They didn’t know how to
handle it, so they didn’t talk to her.
They avoided her for several months after her surgery.
At first,
I was mad at them for being so callous and disrespectful, but then I
realized THEY were the ones to be pitied. They were
missing out on a great experience. What they could have gained in wisdom, understanding,
and guidance, they had given up because of their fears.
They just couldn’t seem to see
past Anne’s exterior appearance and perceived weakness.
People get sick and have things
happen to them that change them. That’s just a fact of life. But as Christians,
we need to be able to give them the
respect and love they need.
The other day I was driving home
from work, and Jane was in the passenger
seat. We were approaching a corner where we’ve seen a skinny raggedy-looking
homeless man many times waving and smiling at everyone. The Lord told Jane to
give the guy $2.00. He was so excited and talked super-fast as he told us he
had been off of drugs and alcohol 15 days now and he could drive, and he could work. Jane and I both told
him, “good job!” He “God blessed” us several times as we said the same back to
him. When we drove off, we both realized
the guy was not nearly as excited about the money as he was about having
someone to tell his story to and them telling him he was doing a good job.
People want to be respected and appreciated.
Our God looks at the heart of a
man or woman. When God sent Samuel to find a king to replace Saul, even the
great prophet was only looking at the exterior:
“And
it came to pass, when they were
come, that he [Samuel] looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s
anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for
the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam 16:6-7).
God doesn’t look at race or nationality, male or female, background,
culture, sickness, weakness or health. God looks straight through to the heart, and we need to practice this too.
We all go through down times, weak
times. We don’t want to abandon people when they’re going through something. James
3:17 says the wisdom of God is not hypocritical and neither is God’s love.
When people we know are having a
hard time, we need to be spiritually sensitive to their situations. We need to have
a little more patience, respect,
and love. Isn’t that what we want when we feel down or weakened?
Love, Carolyn
The holidays are here. One of my
books or booklets would make a * * ! ! ! GREAT RANDOM GIFT #GOLOVE
for a friend or family member who’s maybe going
through a bit of a hard time.
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