I am interrupting the post on people who have accepted me and called me friend to write about our heart attitude of accepting others.
If you have ever read the Gospels you see Jesus hanging out with all kinds of people. Nicodemus was reportedly wealthy as was Zacheus. There were prostitutes, homeless people, sick people, needy people, people who struggled with sin, and people of means. When I read about the people with which Jesus hung out and when I read Jesus's words about caring for people, I believe in what is written. I believe in Jesus's actual message. I don't believe it's a metaphor or just a story. I believe we are to care for the people Jesus calls The Least Of These. I believe Jesus when he says to care for widows and orphans. When he says to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, and give water to the thirsty. I believe these things but I haven't really acted on my believes. I have given money to organizations who feed the starving and give water to the thirsty. We even support a child through Food for the Hungry. But it's rare when I get to actually, physically help someone in need.
On our way to church there is a man who sits at a stoplight. He holds a sign that basically says he is homeless and hungry and can someone help. Some people give him money. Most people ignore him. He has been on Bob's and my hearts for weeks. Last week Bob said we should give him a birthday card. So we filled one out, put some birthday $ in it and gave it to him when we stopped at the light this morning. Before I gave it to him I asked his name and when I handed it over I said, "Happy Birthday HisName." He seemed thankful and he said, "God bless you!" Then we drove on to church.
Before the service I felt like God was saying we should invited HisName to Sunday dinner after church. I didn't share this with Bob...I just pondered it as I waiting to see if HisName would come to church. He has come to services in the past but I didn't see him today. At the end of service Bob came up to me and asked if he could invite HisName to Sunday dinner. I was surprised since I hadn't seen HisName enter the auditorium. I said Bob could indeed invite him but now I was nervous. It's one thing to believe something and another thing entirely to put hands to it and act it out.
Thankfully our pastor's sermon was all about letting God be God. If He sets something in our hearts or calls us to something He is sure to supply what is needed to see it through. Bob went to invite our new friend to Sunday dinner and he accepted! I prayed and told God I was horrible at small talk and didn't want to feel awkward around our new friend. God seemed to say I shouldn't worry and just let HisName tell his stories. That was an awesome answer to prayer because HisName was a talker! And he had several amazing stories to tell. It was as if a floodgate had been opened and he was just so thankful to have people to talk to.
We drove him to our home and he came right in and made himself at home. He was respectful and kind and polite and our kitties loved having an attentive guest who would pet them. He was delighted to oblige. He petted the kitties and chatted with Bob while I finished dinner.
Once dinner was served, I made sure he knew he could take as much or as little as he wanted and he was served first. He said our invitation was a huge blessing and answer to prayer because he couldn't remember the last time he'd had a hot meal for dinner. He said many many people blessed him by giving him sandwiches but he never got an honest to goodness home made hot meal. I felt he didn't eat enough but he said he ate his fill and had a happy belly.
After the meal I asked if there wasn't anything else we could offer him...a hot shower? A nap? Clothing? I could wash the clothes he had with/on him if needed. The only thing he asked for was socks and extra pants if we could spare them. I managed to find 2 pairs of warm pants, 2 long-sleeved shirts, and 4 pairs of pants. Since he carried everything he owned in 1 bag, I couldn't get him to take more than that but you can bet I tried.
We sat and talked for a couple more hours until he asked if we could please take him to the place he had to go to spend the night. We said we could but would he please join us next week for Sunday dinner as well. He agreed only if he could bring the ice cream and cribbage board. We agreed and then took him to where he directed us. I am already planning next week's Sunday Dinner menu.
After HisName left I looked around our apartment and realized we are so fortunate. We have SO much. There is so much stuff here we even have to store some of it in closets and shelves. It almost seems wasteful even though I know we JUST paired down this fall. Also, Bob and I work on having an attitude of gratitude. We work hard as seeing everything we have as directly from God. What we have is only ours to share with those around us. We set out to bless HisName with Sunday dinner and yet we ended up blessed by getting to know an interesting character...another child of God.
When we think of the house that may one day be ours, we don't see it as a place to store more stuff. We see it as a place we can share with others. Whether that be people like HisName, single moms, pregnant teenagers, families who've lost their own home, or women on the run from abusive men...we just want our home to be a place of peace and refuge. A place to rest and get back on your feet. We want to bless others the way we have been blessed. We want to live out what we read in the Bible every day. I won't say it's not scary...it definitely is. But we want to live the radical Gospel of Jesus and if He says feeding hungry people is the same as feeding Him...well, that's what we want to do.
I guess I wanted to write this out because I've been struggling with my own acceptance. Instead of looking to be accepted I should be looking for others to accept. If we hadn't stepped out today and invited HisName to dinner, I would have missed encountering a really nice man with an interesting past to share. I would have missed offering something I've been longing for and finding it in return. Maybe there is something to these radical teaches of Jesus. I look forward to finding out more. May He let us love on more of His children in the coming months and years.

