February 2
Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so.
Proverbs 3:27
Yesterday, I was talking to a friend about another friend’s unfortunate situation. Our discussion was about everyone in my friend’s household having COVID. The friend that I was discussing made a hard decision to nurse one of her children that caught COVID. She’d hope her child could have remained in the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, according to my friend, the doctors weren’t treating her daughter’s illness to standards that had a favorable outcome. So my friend checked her daughter out of the hospital and took her home to nurse back to health.
I gotta give it to my friend! She’s badass! But her choice came with a cost of not knowing the end price that will be paid. She, her elderly husband and a daughter each tested positive with COVID, with her having worse symptoms than her husband and daughter. I better wrap this thought up!
Well, my friend was concerned for everyone’s health. She found a place for her younger children to stay but no one wanted to take her elderly husband. I told my friend, “Girl, if I was there I would take him.” She responded with “strangers are always nicer than family.” I have thoughts on who’s family; however, that’s a topic for a later date.
Any-who-how, my friend listened to my friend’s story until I said, I told her I would help. That’s when my friend said, “No, you can’t afford to help anyone at the moment. You’re always taking on other people’s problems and forgoing your own. God wants us to help others but not to our detriment. Something you always end up doing.” The funny thing about what my friend was saying came across as harsh, unkind and definitely unloving. Yet, her stern words were my truth and the truth of countless others. Let’s pray!
PRAYER

Father of the Universe, thank you for this wonderful day filled with your endless mercies. Your word asks that we help others when it’s within our power. Yet, for many of us we tend to over do things when it comes to helping others; and, sadly, our overzealousness unintentionally removes you from the equation. Temper our spirits of “Good Will” so that our efforts are pleasing to you and spiritually rewarding to the doer and the receiver. Amen