Daily Devotional November 9, 2017
Tom and Kathy are members of the FUMC family. Recently, Tom and I have been talking about how to help those in need. This is the email he sent me yesterday morning. It made my day. I hope it does the same for you.
Hi Tom,
We will be gone Sunday – visiting family in the Northwest, so I wanted to share with you, because I know your day will be terribly empty without me….ok, you’ll at least miss Kathy. (Hey, maybe we will see you tonight?)
We went to the movie “Let There Be Light” on Saturday. Good movie, but that’s not the real point of the story. As we were exiting the theater and nearing our car a man approached me. He apologized for bothering, said he didn’t want to scare or insult me, but he and his wife really needed some help.
I asked him his name (David), and introduced myself, and asked him what was going on. He said they were living in their car and just needed some help to keep going until he could find a job. I had zero cash with me, so I told him I would go to the ATM and be back in ten minutes. Well, turns out Kathy had two gift cards in her pocket (HEB $10 and Whataburger $10), so she handed them to me – and I called out to David, and he was overwhelmed really.
Monday I was in Houston and I went for a walk around the medical district to get my step count up. As I passed the Subway (restaurant), I saw a guy sitting on the ground with his hand out, and a few coins in his hand.
I sat down beside him, which freaked him a bit, introduced myself, and asked him his name (Brandon). So, I said what’s going on today Brandon?
He needed, he said, $10 to get a bed for the night in a shelter. (Is that possible?). Rather than question him I reached in my pocket and found I had $8. So, I gave it to him and wished him a blessed evening.
I’m not really sure why God puts these opportunities before us, but it happens quite a bit. While I have asked Kathy to be VERY careful in dealing with strangers if I am not around, she has also found a heart for the homeless.
We’ll be back from Seattle next Tuesday night.
May God Bless Your Day too!
TOM
While from a monetary standpoint, Tom and Kathy only gave a total of $28 dollars, but the difference they made in these people’s lives was beyond value. They let these people who are down on their luck know that, in a society that has essentially written them off, they were of value. I believe these two acts of kindness made God smile.
Today, by an act of generosity or kindness, you will have the same opportunity God gave Tom and Kathy. Take advantage of it. That’s why we are still here and not in heaven.
In telling how we are to care for those in need, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Choose to make a difference today. It matters.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please use me to make this world a better place. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to the suffering around me. Empower me to make a difference in the lives of those in need. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Just for the record; Tom and Kathy are very modest people and would not like that I used them as an example of Christian virtue. But they will just have to get over it and forgive me. They have no choice. It’s in the Bible.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Share
Tweet
Forward
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 