The King will reply, “Truly I
tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters
of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Paul owned a large
13-passenger van that he drove to church every Sunday. He used the van to
transport those who wouldn’t be able to attend unless they had a ride like
Doris and her granddaughter, Katie.
One week, Paul was in a great
mood. After months of scrimping and budgeting, he and his wife had managed to
save enough to buy a new washing machine. Since their old one had gone out
months ago, they had to drive to a laundromat that was miles away. Not wanting
to go further into debt, they’d patiently saved.
When Paul stopped outside of
Doris and Katie’s tiny house, he got out and helped the disabled woman inside
the warm van. Katie, her teenage daughter, hopped into the passenger seat with
her usual enthusiasm.
After she finished off a
granola bar, Katie pulled off her boots and Paul glanced down. He could see
just a bit of plastic bag sticking out of the top of her sock. “They leak?”
The girl flushed, “Yeah, just
a little.”
“My grandpa use to do the same
thing,” Paul said, giving her a gentle smile.
When Paul got home that night,
he told his wife about Katie. Together, they agreed to hold off on the purchase
of their new washer for a few more weeks. Instead, they got the girl a gift
certificate to a local shoe store and quietly slipped it to Doris.
The next week at work, Paul’s
boss called him in. He told him he’d been doing a great job and gave him an
unexpected holiday bonus for the same amount as the gift card.
God when I see others in need, give me the courage to act. Help
me be filled with compassion for those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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