That scripture came to my mind this week when I was reading an encouraging story about Mother Teresa. “In Mother Teresa, the Wino, and Me” Robert F. Baldwin recounts his story of meeting Mother Teresa and hearing her speak in an auditorium several years ago:
“During her talk, she told us how she and the members of her order, the Missionaries of Charity, seek to recognize Christ in the poorest of the poor.
She told a story of how one of the sisters had spent an entire day bathing the wounds of a dying beggar who was brought to them from the streets of Calcutta. Mother Teresa’s voice dropped to a whisper as she told the hushed auditorium that, in reality, the nun had been bathing the wounds of Jesus” (Baldwin, Robert F.).
In the bible, in Matthew 25: 34-40, Jesus speaks more in-depth to how we are to treat those we come in contact with:
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For 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!'”
The story that Robert Baldwin wrote brought tears to my eyes and deep emotion to my heart. I do try very hard to do what I can for others; whether it is kind words, a warm hug, sympathetic ear, monetary help, food, etc.
But the big a-ha moment I had was the visualization of the nun and how I imagined her lovingly, with a tender touch, cleansing the wounds of this dying beggar as though she was actually bathing the flesh of our Savior!
In all honesty, I have never “seen” helping others through that lens–perspective or viewpoint– before.
It makes perfect sense though, doesn’t it?! Because God is omniscient (knows everything), omnipresent (present everywhere), and omnipotent (has unlimited power). God sees everything, is a part of everything, with unlimited power.
My mind and spirit, through this incredible revelation, reflected back to some of the ways I had helped in the past and I saw it differently–through the Words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40.
When I gave warm clothes to the shelter, He was the recipient of a slightly used coat with a brown scarf.
When I had the chance to serve and feed the hungry in the park? Yeah, He was there, in line, between the young family and an older lady.
I pray that I never forget the story of Mother Teresa and the nun. I want to approach each day in a way that whomever the Lord brings my way, I’ll do my best to help them as though it was My Lord.
To do this I am:
*Committing to pray daily for the Lord to comfort those in need and to give me the eyes to see how I can serve those all around me and whomever He directs me to.
*Next, I am committing to ACT and BE OBEDIENT to what the Lord calls me to do. Set my feet in motion and love, share, serve, spread the Gospel of Jesus, etc. to the lost and hurting world.
Help me to become more like You every day, Lord. May I be Your hands and feet on this earth, spreading the Gospel and the love of Jesus to everyone! Amen!
All the Glory to God,
Shanon
Works Cited:
Baldwin, Robert F. “Mother Teresa, the Wino, and Me.” Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith. Published by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC. Print. 2008.
Matthew 25:40 “Every life is worth the same to God, PRICELESS!” crosscards. Web. 6 December 2019. https://www.crosscards.com/cards/facebook-ecards/12072015-matthew-25-40-social.html
The Beauty of truth: faith, Hope, & Love. “Christ has no body but yours…” perfectthewayyouarerightnow.com. Pinterest. 7 December 2019. Web. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/161848180332707038/
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