ROSE is ROSE
John 13:35
“By this everyone will know that you
are my disciples, if you love one another.”
How do we do this?
It is a scary world out there, but we are set apart if we are a child of God*.
Our great desire should be to live our life in His joy so others see and wonder how we do this. This can be a beginning of our evangelizing.
It would be great if people would just ask us,
"what makes you happy even in this life of woe?"
Some times people may ask this question, but mostly people are like us in that they keep to themselves.
Some people may think we are happy because we have it easy in life not knowing that we struggle in life also, the difference being we have a great and wonderful God and Savior to run to** in all things! People may not know or understand that the LORD is always here with us, He loves us, He comforts us, gives us His strength, and we are never alone.
The thing about opening up relationships with others and eventually sharing our faith in the One and Only*** is that it all takes time investing in others.
So when you open yourself up for a relationship with either a Believer or non-Believer you can know it takes an investment of listening, helping, and sometimes doing.
When we decide to open up with people we will stand out among a "sea" of other humans who could care less about any other people.
Listening may be the main thing when you begin a relationship. Everyone has troubles and joys, but they may not have anyone who would care to hear about it.
Listening to people leads us to prayer. We can pray for our people, and eventually ask them if they would like it if we prayed for them, maybe with them.
There are many "people groups" who are not necessarily acknowledged in our culture. The elderly is one of these. Smiling, acknowledging their existence is a huge way to care about them.
Our possibilities of caring about others is limitless!
This is a fallen world where everyone is hurting for one reason or another. As His child we need to pray, care, listen, and reach out to those we can befriend.
Glory to God!
*Ephesians 2:1-10
**Proverbs 18:10
***John 1:14
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2 comments:
Thank you for this reminder to SEE people we are passing.
Not many will make eye contact, but it’s nice to smile or offer a friendly nod to those who do. I learned from my mother to be willing to converse with those around me. My mom could make friends with strangers who happened to be standing in line with her. Circumstances dictate, unfortunately, as to this day and time. But those circumstances are rare, I would say.
Residents in nursing homes are sometimes sitting in the hallways, just staring. I try to greet them and ask how they are doing. They nearly always respond positively. Yesterday we passed a man in a wheelchair with no legs and his nose was missing. He was sitting outside by himself, enjoying the mild weather. I think he was surprised when I cheerfully asked if he was enjoying the fresh air. At Hobby Lobby, another lady and I were waiting to have fabric cut....(a man ahead of us was getting yards and yards of muslin to wrap his paintings in)! Anyway, we started talking, enjoying the festive exuberance of shoppers, and the ladies around us joined in our conversation! We could have all stood there in silence, but it was so much better, smiling and being friendly! We even helped the store clerk wrap the eight feet of netting which I had gotten...it was all over the place! We had a good time trying to tame it, and the clerk appreciated the help! We even commented that if we kept on talking, we might have discovered we were kin...ha ha! Guess I’m still in a talkative mood!
Hope you know your blogs are inspiring to read! Thank you, Jill!
Kathryn
Thank you, Kathryn, for sharing. Your mother and your activities touched my heart. Praising the LORD with you!
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