Matthew 25 35-40For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
I sit here at my kitchen table, pondering the thoughts that are crossing my mind for this "Bread for the Journey". I am reminded of the singer and songwriter Steve Bell and the great story teller he is. He told us that often he forgets words to his songs, or as he is writing, he just can't come up with just the right words, hence it becomes, nananananana, or deereetdeereetdeeree. Well you get the picture. I thought, wouldn't that be funny, to find these words of no particular meaning on "Bread for the Journey". I know what I want to say, but have no words that can accurately express it what I am feeling.
I think of Lovella's post on the Food Grain Bank, and how privileged we are not only having food to eat, but a multitude of choices, and we grumble because we don't know what we want to eat, or complain if something is placed before us that we don't like to eat. There are millions if not billions of people have NOTHING or very little to eat.
I think of the Good Shepherd Shelter in Ukraine that we are donating our author royalties to, and MCC that helps so many, who are stricken in war, poverty, famine. I browse the internet, and look through my cookbooks for ideas on what to make for supper,the choices are endless. Dare I grumble about all the dirty dishes and clean up that comes with it, when we have had the privilege of preparing food to eat, while others search for tiny morsels found in garbage dumps, or God knows where to feed themselves or their starving children?
I ask the Lord for forgiveness of my unsettled spirit and turn my thoughts to gratefulness, and ask my self, (not for the first time either) what is my responsibility as a Christian.
Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, help the poor, visit the sick and the lonely. What can I do? I am only one person, but I am one. I can't do every thing, but I can do something and what I can do, I will do by the grace of God. I may not be able to feed all the hungry in the world, but I can create an awareness, here on the blog, in my family when we talk about why I am serving 'beans and rice' today. To be thankful for all that has been given to me, and do my small part in building God's kingdom.
For those of you have purchased our book, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for partnering with us, to make a positive difference in this world.
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