Comes A Time

For several years my Beloved Husband made fudge to put into the baskets carolers from the church took to members who were ill or shut-in. We didn’t last year, and missed again this year.  Operations and medical crises took our focus.

Thanks be to God that we are never alone!  That was made abundantly clear when the carolers showed up at our house last night with a basket of goodies.  Oh, we sang carols, then had cookies and treats, lots of talk and a wonderful time together celebrating the birth of our Lord.

I did feel a bit of remorse and guilt, though. Next year, we make fudge again!  We have been so very blessed during this past year in spite of the physical pain Beloved Husband has endured. A double blessing has been that our own children are part of the church family that has been so supportive.  We know they are just as supportive to other members in need as they have been for us.

There is not a single individual on this planet that escapes those times when their need requires the care of another.  Whether it is physical (and that will come to all of us) or spiritual, having family reaching out to sustain is all that keeps us going.  When we’re children of God through Jesus Christ, that family is larger than we can comprehend.

I know prayers said for my husband stretched from Nairobi to Manila, from London to Guatemala City and hundreds of places in between. Those are our brothers and sisters in Christ, extended family members we will be with for eternity, just as much as those who stood in our home Monday night.  They all understand:

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40 KJV)

Paul wanted us to look out for each other, too:

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 KJV)

I really like that “know them which labour among you” -- get to know those who do the work of the Lord in the church. Also get to know those who “are over you in the Lord” – get to know your pastor.  He’s not there just to give sermons, he’s there to lead the congregation, to teach God’s word, to feed His sheep.

Those are the people who carried the baskets, gathered carolers, came to other homes and ours, and filled them with beautiful songs while sharing God’s love. There’s nothing better this side of heaven – where we’ll meet again.