You're worth it!

Five women from a church we served in Massachusetts years ago, drove down to NJ to see Bev on Monday. They brought several dinners for our freezer, as well as smiles and hugs. They sat with her for four hours, telling stories, laughing and telling stories. They drove about 400 miles round trip to make this visit, investing a whole day in the effort. Why?  For love’s sake.  Others have sent word of prayer on her behalf.  Gifts came in the mail.  Flowers arrived.  Two women carved time out of each day for a couple of weeks to come to assist with medical procedures.  All of this is a way to say – “You are a person of worth! We love you.”

We are to be little ‘Christs’ in the world, bearing His likeness. How?  Primarily by showing love to others. The Bible says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NKJV)  It isn’t likely we will literally die for others, but in learning to love, we will set aside our preferences and our convenience, becoming aware of the needs of others.  Love is most basically shown when we acknowledge people - that they exist and that we care for them.  “That’s easy,” you say. But, it is not! All kinds of things conspire to keep us from loving others: the busy pace of life, concern for our own needs, fatigue, selfishness, fear ... to name a few. For example - as you hurried into the coffee shop today, did you take time to make eye contact with the barista?  Did you pause to say, "Thank you," and mean it?  If you didn't, most likely it wasn’t meanness.  You were just in a hurry, thinking about beating traffic and getting to work, right? As you left your home, did you take time to seek out your spouse or your kids and bless their day?  Did you share a a hug or a kiss?  These things say, "You’re worthy. I care about you."  

Kenny collects grocery carts at our local store. He has Down’s syndrome, talks in monotones to himself as he works. Last week, as he collected carts, I greeted him. “Hi, Kenny. I missed you around here.  Were you sick?”  He paused, a bit suspicious of a stranger who spoke, then a big smile crossed his face.  He told me he went to Florida for the winter.  It was obvious that he took delight from being recognized and spoken to kindly. My own spirit was lifted by this brief exchange of humanity!

Christians who add value to the lives of others, train themselves to listen, to empathize, to care. God will help us. That kind of love pleases Him. Pray this -  "Lord, open my eyes and ears to the needs of people around me." When He does, prepare to cry. It is costly to care. When we take note of the people around us, we will see the pain that this broken world piles up.  Those who love will  be unable to brush past people protected by the blinders of self-interest.  What I find of interest is that love is a circle.  Those who care most selflessly for others are most cared for!  
Here's a word from the Word.  Jesus told it teach us to love. “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits.
They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “
By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity.
Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them.
Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
 The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man.
 ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’

 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 10:30-37, NLT)
Let's do God work in the world- loving others.  I know it is an old cliché but it bears repetition  - “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care!”

May our lives make one simple declaration to everyone, of every age, of every race, of every social status – “You're a person of worth!"