Every Soul Matters!

It's Friday! But Sundays comin'!

I wasn't surprised when I had gotten the call from my mom Friday morning that my granddad had gone to be with the Lord. The day before I had stopped by to visit him at the nursing home. It has been a long last three months for him. He has been very ill and had been put in hospice care in January. At that time he declared he would beat the doctors odds of a couple of weeks, and that he did! I am not sure if I have ever seen such a will for life. His health over the last several years has been quiet crazy and it is if he had nine lives and just keeps coming back for more. In my eyes I always thought what does he have to come back to? He can't play golf or bridge anymore, two of the things he loved the most. His wife had passed a few years before and most of his friends are no longer living as he just turned 89 in January. So Lord, why do you tarry with this man's life? Why must you keep him here with no quality of life? Why should he have to suffer through his last few years on this earth? Why do we have to watch this happen? God answered those questions to me in a way I didn't quiet expect.

I can tell you over the last six months to a year God has been stirring all kinds of newness about our relationship. He has turned my world upside down and made me think out of the box and get out of my boat. Have I enjoyed that? Well, in a weird way...yes! I haven't loved the hard parts but I have loved being able to know my Savior more!

My Wednesday night Bible study group decided to study James around Christmas. We began our study and God began sifting away more of my selfishness, more of the things of "me" that were not needed. It seems He has to do that non-stop. We didn't get far into our study and God was already revealing to me my calloused view in taking care of my granddad and reiterating the burden I had for children with no families.
James 1:27 "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."
It was almost a slap in the face as to say 'Kim, you have so not loved the least of these, including your granddad'. Let me just say that hurt! That hurt bad! I will be honest and say my point of view has always been that my stomach couldn't handle the odor and sights of nursing homes or the elderly, or not knowing what to say or how to care for someone that can't get up and go. How shallow am I?? The Lord showed me real quick my selfishness. I repented and asked for the Lord to forgive me and give me opportunity to serve my granddad. God granted that prayer.

Although I had also prayed for the Lord to come quickly for my granddad since he was so sick and so helpless. Obviously that request did not ring true until good Friday. And on the day before as I sat with my granddad as he lay curled into a ball not moving, not saying a word, I put my hands upon him (rubbing his back as I found in the previous months he loved) and cried out for the Lord to end his battle. I know the Lord had not answered my request several months before because he knew I needed to learn something. He knew I needed to learn what it was like to unselfishly care for someone besides those right around me. He knew I needed to see someone else's need for time, for a gentle back rub, a simple haircut, a good teeth brushing, a lotion rub to a dry frail body, or yummy Hershey kisses and a chocolate milkshake to taste buds that were barely left.  Those simple things could make a dying man's day. Oh Lord forgive me as I was too selfish to see if before.

That Friday as I went to pick up my son from a sleepover I began to share the news with him. His first words were so very sweet and so comforting. He said, "Mom, the best part is grandpa died the same day as Jesus." Oh the perspective of a child to make all things good. Such comfort in knowing he is now alive with Christ.

So after getting my son in the car and sharing with him we drive through the Sonic drive through to grab something to drink.  Now, this has been the particular Sonic that the last few times we have been to we have been able to meet the need of the homeless and feed them.  As I looked around and I didn't see anyone in need.  I said to God, 'where are they'?  We drove on to meet my mom as she was gearing up for making funeral preparations and trying to get things in order.  My son hopped out of the car and got in hers and as I looked up I saw a drunk and dirty black man stumbling toward my car.  It startled me.  I shook my head to him as to tell him to go away.  Then I thought, what am I doing???  I just asked God where were they?  I watched my mom, just as startled as I was, give the man a few dollars and we drove on.  As I drove away I looked in my rear view mirror looking for this man that had appeared out of no where and I didn't see him.  I was upset with myself.

Here I felt like I had just learned one of the most valuable lessons of my life watching my granddad die and the Lord so graciously giving me opportunity to care for him as best I could.  Then I had asked God where are the needy?  He supplies, and I retreat.  Now, don't get me wrong I believe God gave us all a brain and for us to be cautious and safe but at the same time if the Lord answers our request, will He not also protect us and provide for us as we carry out that task?  Yes!  He will!  When God calls, He will equip!  This was yet another lesson that I am learning.

Every soul is important!!!!!  Everyone matters!!!  Red and yellow, black and white they are precious in His sight!  Jesus loves all the children of the world.  We are his children!  Each one of us has needs.  Each one of us needs love.  Each one of us needs to be cared for.  Each one of us needs to know that they matter to someone.  Whether they are your neighbor, a stranger, homeless, a drunk, Hispanic, white, old, or young each soul matters for eternity!!  No one is too far gone from God's love!!

So as I reflect on the Easter weekend I am sad but happy.  Sad for a sweet life lost, my granddad.  Sad that an innocent man had to die in the place of my wretched sinful self.  Sad that a poor black man may not know the Lord because I was too scared and didn't trust God enough to provide for me.  BUT Sunday came and I am rejoicing that my granddad is now in the presence of the King. Sunday came and my Savior LIVES!! And because of His great sacrifice I now am forgiven and have eternal life through Him!  Sunday came and I now have opportunity to pray for that homeless man to know the Lord or for our paths to cross again. What a sweet Sunday it was!!

Where are you today?  Who do you know you need to care for?  Is God calling you to care for the homeless?  Is He calling you to love on the less fortunate?  Is He calling you to love those that may not love you back?  Is He calling you to minister to, to care for, or maybe even adopt the orphans and the widows?  What more is He requiring of you today?  If we are growing in Him, He will always be requiring more of us.  Did you catch that?... Our salvation doesn't end with a prayer.  We must be continually growing, other wise we are continually falling away.  Encouraging you that there is NO better place to be than walking with Him!  Every soul matters!!