Who Is My Neighbor?

I could write a book about the lessons God has taught me through my husband, and yesterday was just another of the chapters I could write. This one would be called "A Modern Day Tale of the Good Samaritan."

Yesterday was a day of extremes...grieving along with a friend whose sweet mom had unexpectedly passed away last week, then moments later honoring my in-laws at their 50th anniversary celebration. The minutes between the two were short. As we left the viewing, we had only a few short moments to return home to pick up our boys and all the party preparations, then head out to the party location for a family photo of all 45 of us. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As we drove the short couple of miles home, we came across a man who was sitting in the middle of the road. Beside him was a cooler of spilled ice. We immediately started speculating what had happened. Was he hit by a car ? Did he fall?

My husband pulled over and got out to help the man over to the side of the road. After speaking with him for a few moments, my husband returned to our van and told me that the man was drunk and that he needed to help him to his "home."

Ashamedly, I wanted to keep going. Afterall, we had a schedule to keep. This once-in-a-lifetime family picture opportunity was looming ahead of us, and I didn't have time to be bothered by the woes of this man. In my heart, I had "passed on the other side."

But my husband went to the man, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He listened to his story and offered Him the hope that He can have through Jesus. As I watched the exchange between the two...as I watched my husband help the man to his feet and carry his belongings to the place where he was staying, I was convicted.

God gave me a picture of my calloused heart...the heart that doesn't want to love my neighbor as myself; the heart that is more concerned with my itinerary than the heart needs of a lost world. Though ashamed, my eyes were enlightened and my heart stirred.

As we begin a new school year this week, I pray that it will be my heart's desire to love the Lord my God with all my passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence...and to love my neighbor as well as I do myself (The Message). May I model this command for our boys in such a way that it creates in them hearts of compassion for those who don't yet know Jesus. This is our prayer.