At my place of employment around Christmas, we collect non-perishable food, toiletries, stationary, and things of that nature for the elderly in the community. My heart always goes out to the elderly and I like to help them. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that when I was a kid, my mother often had elderly friends she would help care for, take to the doctor, clean their house, etc. Or maybe it’s because of my love for my grandmothers in their elderly years. I also feel sympathetic towards those who seem to be forgotten by their loved ones. And one day I will be elderly and run the risk of having no one to care for me. I suppose it could be a combination of all of these.

Whatever the case, I really wanted to help. But I was hesitant to go to the store and buy needed items for the elderly. You are likely wondering why it was so hard. I don’t really have a good explanation for my anxieties. I am an introvert who very much keeps to herself, so perhaps my hesitations stemmed from that. But whatever the reason, I had a debate going on in my head. Thankfully, I managed to talk myself into going to the grocery store and filling my cart with canned goods for the elderly. In the end, I was so glad that I did.

You might wonder how I talked myself into proceeding. Well I am glad you asked, because that is the true point of this post. It boils down to love. As children of God, we are called to love one another. Jesus came to this world out of love. Jesus lived a life of love. And Jesus died out of love. Jesus should be our role model, and we should love others as He did. Sometimes to love others that means we have to be inconvenienced. Sometimes to love others we have to push past our fears.

In the spirit of Christmas, I pray we can look for ways to spread the love of Jesus to those around us. Let us be inconvenienced and let us push past our fears. When we do something difficult in the name of love, it will bring honor and glory to the Lord.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:12 NKJV

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas