Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Whether you are religious or not, this verse in James is pretty heavy. In conjunction with the "love your neighbor as yourself" verse, my husband and I have take this verse pretty literally. We have talked and talked and talked about adopting a kid, two kids an army of kids in the future, but there's another part to the story. Looking after, not only orphans, but widows.
The neighbors on either side of our house are pretty up there in age. On one side, Sally, she's in her 70's. Her husband died around the same time we bought our house. Of course we did not find out this information until a year later when we actually moved into our house, so we weren't around when it happened. She is widowed. Her family is close, but she seems to have visitors only a few times a month from what we can tell. We see her on occasion when we're outside milling around in the yard. She's a very nice lady, and seems to be decently busy with projects fro her very grown kids and also grown grandchildren.
On the other side of us there are the Wigglesworth's. Mr. Wigglesworth is 94, going on 95. His wife is in her 70's. Mr. Wigglesworth has been in and out of the hospital quite a bit during the last year, and is in the hospital as I type this. Mrs. Wigglesworth goes and spends everyday with him, and from what she tells us, he really wants to come home.
I haven't understood why we were drawn to this house when we were first looking for houses. Well, other than the square footage that is. The house is far too big for just Shawn and I. To be honest, we only use about half of the square footage, if that. But there was something drawing us to this location, and I think it was our neighbors (not that we knew it at the time).
You see, every week Shawn and I put out and bring in our neighbors garbage cans. We also pick up their newspapers that are delivered everyday so they don't have to bend down and reach to pick them up. Small favors, but appreciated greatly. Everytime we see our neighbors they express their thanks and appreciation.
We had offered for quite a long time to help them in anyway we can, but they have always refused our help, probably out of principle or losing some amount of independence. We explained that we are home most of the time and all they need to do is pick up the phone and call us. This is our small way of serving those around us. Both neighbors have our cell phone numbers and we have explained that we are 'on call' if they need us.
Mrs. Wigglesworth just told me the other day that she might need help carrying in groceries. They have a two story house and need to go up and down stairs everytime they come in and out of thier house, which is getting quite difficult.
We are happy to help them out. I am a firm believer in 'you reap what you sow' or 'what comes around goes around' or 'karma'....whatever you want to call it. The universe has a way of giving back. When we are older we can only hope and pray that there are folks like this around us, not only for us, but perhaps for our parents and other family members.
So for now, everyday we will pick up the paper and every week we will put out and bring in the garbage cans....that is, until they let us help them further. We know they have family, but simple maintanence things like this can be done by someone who is in close proximity.
If you remember, please pray for the Wigglesworths (or Wiggy's as Shawn and I like to call them). Send some good thoughts, light a candle for them...whatever your beliefs are. Mr. Wiggy isn't doing too well, and Mrs. Wiggy is terrified she is going to lose her husband. She cried the other day when we were chatting. It breaks my heart, but I truly believe this is why we were brought here for this season in life.
Whether you are religious or not, this verse in James is pretty heavy. In conjunction with the "love your neighbor as yourself" verse, my husband and I have take this verse pretty literally. We have talked and talked and talked about adopting a kid, two kids an army of kids in the future, but there's another part to the story. Looking after, not only orphans, but widows.
The neighbors on either side of our house are pretty up there in age. On one side, Sally, she's in her 70's. Her husband died around the same time we bought our house. Of course we did not find out this information until a year later when we actually moved into our house, so we weren't around when it happened. She is widowed. Her family is close, but she seems to have visitors only a few times a month from what we can tell. We see her on occasion when we're outside milling around in the yard. She's a very nice lady, and seems to be decently busy with projects fro her very grown kids and also grown grandchildren.
On the other side of us there are the Wigglesworth's. Mr. Wigglesworth is 94, going on 95. His wife is in her 70's. Mr. Wigglesworth has been in and out of the hospital quite a bit during the last year, and is in the hospital as I type this. Mrs. Wigglesworth goes and spends everyday with him, and from what she tells us, he really wants to come home.
I haven't understood why we were drawn to this house when we were first looking for houses. Well, other than the square footage that is. The house is far too big for just Shawn and I. To be honest, we only use about half of the square footage, if that. But there was something drawing us to this location, and I think it was our neighbors (not that we knew it at the time).
You see, every week Shawn and I put out and bring in our neighbors garbage cans. We also pick up their newspapers that are delivered everyday so they don't have to bend down and reach to pick them up. Small favors, but appreciated greatly. Everytime we see our neighbors they express their thanks and appreciation.
We had offered for quite a long time to help them in anyway we can, but they have always refused our help, probably out of principle or losing some amount of independence. We explained that we are home most of the time and all they need to do is pick up the phone and call us. This is our small way of serving those around us. Both neighbors have our cell phone numbers and we have explained that we are 'on call' if they need us.
Mrs. Wigglesworth just told me the other day that she might need help carrying in groceries. They have a two story house and need to go up and down stairs everytime they come in and out of thier house, which is getting quite difficult.
We are happy to help them out. I am a firm believer in 'you reap what you sow' or 'what comes around goes around' or 'karma'....whatever you want to call it. The universe has a way of giving back. When we are older we can only hope and pray that there are folks like this around us, not only for us, but perhaps for our parents and other family members.
So for now, everyday we will pick up the paper and every week we will put out and bring in the garbage cans....that is, until they let us help them further. We know they have family, but simple maintanence things like this can be done by someone who is in close proximity.
If you remember, please pray for the Wigglesworths (or Wiggy's as Shawn and I like to call them). Send some good thoughts, light a candle for them...whatever your beliefs are. Mr. Wiggy isn't doing too well, and Mrs. Wiggy is terrified she is going to lose her husband. She cried the other day when we were chatting. It breaks my heart, but I truly believe this is why we were brought here for this season in life.
1 comment:
i love that you do that. you're extending the tangible hands and feet of Christ to your neighbors. the mere fact that you are different will make them look closer. and they will see Him in you.
Post a Comment