May 19, 2006

• Who lives in your neighborhood?

  No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 1 Timothy 5:9-10

  
  

  This Scripture is one of my ‘life Scriptures’. I read it regularly and try to live my days accordingly. It may seem strange that someone who is NOT a widow would use this Scripture as a guideline for her life. Let me share the reason why. Widows, during the time of the apostles, were not given government assistant. They were dependent on their families to support them. If their family would not support them then the church would put them on a list to feed them. But, ONLY if they had led godly lives patterned after the Scripture above. The time for a widow to prepare for her later years was NOT when she became a widow but when she was younger and raising her children.  So, I believe the time to prepare for the future is today. 

  
  

  I regularly need to be asking myself if I am…

  
  

  … being faithful to my husband

  
  

  KNOWN for good deeds such as

  
  

  ….bringing up children

  
  

  … showing hospitality

  
  

  …washing the feet of the saints

  
  

  …helping those in trouble

  
  

  …devoting myself to all kinds of good deeds

  
  

  Living this out daily sometimes comes down to opening my eyes to who is living in my own neighborhood.

  
  

  We moved to a small little rural town nearly 2 years ago. I’ve never lived in a small town before. It kind of reminds me a little of Mayberry in Andy Griffith. There is a small little group of older people who have known each other for years. They’ve raised their families together… lost children and husbands together… and survived many years together as friends.

  
  

  The oldest living person in our little town lives right across the field from our home.  She will be 94 years old this year and has lived here since she first married in her 20′s. Everyone seems to know Doris and adores her. She is just a wisp of a thing. She laughs and says that she’s never been able to climb over a 100 pounds no matter how much she eats. She made patchwork quilts for her family members up until last year but still continues to make potholders for Christmas gifts. I own two of these little gems and use them nearly every day while cooking.

  
  

   Doris loves to have company stop in for a chat.

  
  

  The days must be long for Doris. She lost her husband years ago and lives alone. Her daughter calls her daily and picks up groceries for her. She lost another daughter to cancer when she was in her early 50′s and her son in a car crash 18 years ago.  She still keeps her own home and cooks her own meals. You can set the clock by the time she opens her curtains in the morning and closes them at night as she heads to her bedroom to watch Jeopardy (which is the only tv show she watches).

  
  

  I wave to Doris as I drive by and occasionally stop for a chat but I always feel as if I need to do more. My days are so busy and something is always pressing for my attention. But, someday Doris will be gone and so will my opportunity to minister to her and show her God’s love.

  
  

  Is there is a ‘Doris’ in your neighborhood?

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 1:05 am
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