The Good Neighbor
“Mommy, Mommy, what did that lady’s sign say?”
She caught my attention as we drove out of one of the busiest parking lots in town, the weekend before Christmas.
“Honey, I didn’t get a chance to read the whole thing. What do you think it said?”
It was the truth, sort of. Rolling past, I read half of the sign to know the family on the corner of the parking lot was asking for money. The father, with a violin in his hand, beautiful music swelling from the speaker near his feet, was using his talent as a means to earn enough to pay rent.
But there was a long line of cars behind me. And it was lunch time. And I had a to-do list at least a mile long. And I was ready to be out of the chaos of the masses and back in the peace of my home.
“I think they need money. Can we go back and give them some money, Mommy?”
“Yea, can we go back, please?” The little one echoed her sister’s request.
As their tiny plea filled voices rang through the car, great conviction washed over my soul.
Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” (Matthew 10:30-36)
There is never a lack of opportunities, my friend. Opportunities to do good. To be the hands and feet of Christ. And so often, as I pray that God will use me to be a blessing and an example, and that He will cultivate kindness and generosity in the hearts of my children, I’ve come to realize I am often extinguishing the answers to my own prayers.
Someone else will stop. Someone else will do it. Someone else will pick up the pieces, drop the cash, or lend a hand.
I don’t have the time. Or the money readily available. Or the expertise.
Maybe you’ve had similar thoughts, too. But none of that matters. God will provide what you need in order to do His work. All you have to do is be willing.
And on that day, as God answered my prayers through the generous hearts of my children, it just so happened that I had a few bills tucked away in my wallet. An extremely rare instance, no doubt.
But then again, nothing in the kingdom of God is ever a coincidence. Rather, a divine appointment in order to reveal His goodness and love not only to the recipient, but most of all, to the obedient.
