THOUGHT FOR TODAY

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE?
If there is a poor man...in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you,do not be hardhearted or tightfisted
Deuteronomy15:7



 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Giving is about compassion,not about judgement...
M.Beecher(Maryland)
In the median of her busy street stands a man in shabby clothes and run down boots.His cardboard sign reads (UNEMPLOYED VET-HUNGRY-WILL WORK FOR MONEY.GOD BLESS.)Every Sunday she goes to church and goes thru the intersection she sees someone begging for food or money.The director in NYork once told her that giving money to the homeless only enables them to stay on the street.If she gave the man money how would she know if he was to buy bananas or a beer,a coat or cocaine?Yet she donated money to shelters and programs that said they would help the poor the addicts the misfits of society.So why feel hardhearted,averting eyes as she passed by the urban scarecrow of a man?In the scripture above she can not find any test that the poor have to pass before she should give generously.There is no requirements that they must be honest,hard working,worthy or even thankful.Could it be that Gods admonition to give is sometimes more about her maintaining a compassionate heart than about what the recipient will do with the money she thought?

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

GOD CAN DO GREAT THINGS THROUGH US IF WE OFFER OUR WHOLE SELF IN GODS SERVICE
Pamela Vale-Taylor(England

A difficult divorce

Wendy emailed us about her sister who was still not over her divorce.Wendy felt after a year her sister should be able to put it behind her.Wendy told Fr John when she met him that her sister was acting like someone had died or something.Fr John explained to Wendy when someone goes through a divorce or end any kind of relationship and it was more one sided.It is like a death to many-its a death of a relationship.Of what might of been.Of their dreams as a couple.Everyone grieves for a loss differently but he would suggest to the sister perhaps to seek counseling or talk with the pastor of their church on a more regular basis.When we met her sister Sue,she was very depressed.Her husband and her had been having problems but nothing she thought that they couldn't work out.His answer to the problems was he wanted a divorce.They had no children together and had only been married for 3 yrs.but Sue said"he had been her soul mate.Her one true love.
Fr John while talking to her suggested the first thing she needed to do was address her depression and perhaps go to her doctor.The second thing was she needed to talk to someone about her feelings,maybe others who have gone through a difficult divorce.Counseling,and most of all try to keep busy and not dwell on what might of been,but what is.After about an hour Sue said she would keep in touch.But she never did.However,we heard from Wendy lately and seems as if Sue has met a man who had a bad divorce also and is doing much better.It is difficult sometimes to see the rainbow over the horizon.Many times life does not go as we plan.And there are many obstacles in finding happiness.But with the help of faith one can get through them.And perhaps have a better life than they had imagined.There is a reason for everything even if we don't understand it Fr John always says.

IT STARTED WITH A CHILD'S BOOK

Jennie was 3 yrs old.Her mom and grandma waited on her hand and foot.When she pointed to something or made grunting type noises they knew just what she wanted. Jennie did not talk. Occasionally the only words she spoke was ma and no. A young neighbor who lived next door to this family offered to babysit for Jennie free. So the mom and grandma could go to church on Sundays. The 16 yr olds name was Shelly. Shelly emailed us and asked if we had any children's books. We happened to receive a lot of books that year from Melodi in Jackson. We packed up a box of the books. And we delivered them. When Shelly babysat she would read to Jennie. Two favorite books  that Jennie liked was an alphabet book and an Elmo book. Jennie was encouraged to point to the pictures and repeat the words. Shelly also made her say cookie when she grunted and pointed to the cabinet. It took several months but Jennie learned to talk. In fact Shelly said she started talking so much you couldn't shut her up. Never underestimate the power of a child's book. It definitely can help in learning social skills .It opened a whole new world for Jennie. Perhaps by the adults in the house always grabbing whatever Jennie wanted she had no need to talk. Either way this 16 yr old babysitter helped Jennie to find her voice. And this is also another  reason we always add a few books in drop offs where children are involved. There just might be another Jennie.

Interestinng Article

http://tiny.cc/DaveDixon

One solution for the HOMELESS

TINY HOUSES OR MORE SHELTERS FOR HUMANS.


LETS ASK OUR GOVERNOR,MAYORS,FREEHOLDERS ,LAW MAKERS TO HELP GET SOME OF THE HOMELESS OFF THE STREETS.TYPE IN THE ABOVE AND SEE WHAT WOULD BE ONE SOLUTION TO OUR EVER GROWING HOMELESS PROBLEM.WRIGHT TO THOSE IN OFFICE TODAY.LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD.SHOW THAT THE HOMELESS ARE NOT THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE

A SAD PICK UP

The elderly man had just lost his wife to Cancer.He wanted to donate her items and had his daughter email us.When we arrived it was obvious the man was depressed as he held onto his wifes picture in a frame.Fr John talked with the man as his daughter and I loaded up the car.She mentioned she wanted him to move in with her but he wanted to stay in the house him and his wife spent so many years in.
...We learned shortly after the man had died also(no doubt from a broken heart).These type of pick ups are sad for us.We get to see first hand many times some ones life ,their pictures,their nick nacs their clothes and their memories.Often we are handed boxes of items that when we sort through them there might be a card or a picture or an item someone took a lot of time and effort to make.Like a handmade blanket that you know took hours to make.Maybe even days.A card signed with love,a picture of them at happier times.Nic nacks that are all similar which you realize it was probably her collection(like all chickens).All these material things that once represented a persons life.GONE! But the memories for those left behind will never be replaced.