Matthew 25:35-40
for I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me’ I was in prison, and you came to me. 37 Then the righteous will answer Him saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly as I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.”
Keystone Rescue Mission in Scranton is a facility for those who have had a lack of good opportunities in their lives and after a series of them, they end up homeless, and often hopeless! We as concerned people will often give…maybe donations, maybe food or clothes, but we rarely see or interact with the person on the receiving end of our giving. Until now!
My friend lives in an apartment building. Through a series of events, she became aware of a man who had been living on the streets, and now lives in her building! While I don’t know how he came to live in her building, I do know that he had next to nothing in that apartment. How do I know? She told me that when she went to introduce herself to the new resident, and bring him food, she caught a glimpse of the living area. One twin bed-no sheets-one thin blanket-no pillow and one small couch on the other side of the room.
Clearly this did not sit well with my friend, and she began to rally some troops! She chatted about it to the people at every gathering where she saw some residents who might be interested. I believe that maybe they remembered a time when they were very close to being in that position. Maybe an illness prevented them from working for a longer time than their money held out. Maybe caring for a sick child or loved one delayed a paycheck coming in. Maybe even a bad relationship dictated that they leave and hide ‘under the radar’ to be safe, and as a result- homeless. Whatever ‘Bill’s’ reason for homelessness was it is not as important as what the kind hearts of the residents did for him.
Remembering what it was like when she was in the hospital and could not get a proper shower, one resident bought him towels. Another bought him hygiene products; soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, remembering how good it always feels when you can get yourself clean. Another brought him a pillow; another brought some clothing changes. Still another bought new socks and underwear. Beginning to feel the love and blessings of people he did not even know-he cried!
I feel that maybe it had been quite a while since he felt that loved. He thanked everyone over and over again!
God always sees a grateful heart and He had to bless ‘Bill’ as well! When an apartment full of furniture became available because a resident passed away, the family decided to give ALL the furniture to this man who virtually had none!
That’s what I call the ‘snowball effect’ of blessing, topping it off with an avalanche! Here is one thing I know for sure in the years I have been here on this earth, you cannot outgive God! We will probably never know the blessings those people received in return for blessing a man who has no way to return the favor.
I was not part of this ‘chain of blessing’, but I was blessed just hearing about it! Hearing about blessing others is a motivator to do the same for someone else.
We don’t all have a ‘Bill’ we can bless, but right now we do have countless people suffering from the effects of the recent storm, Ian. Please find a good place to make a donation. Every bit will help with the tremendous need! Both Convoy of Hope and Samaritan’s Purse are Christian organizations, and they are already on the scene, and very responsible with the money. Do it ‘as unto Jesus’!
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