A Heart for Humanity

"This one is going to be my room!" said one of the children.”  I even got to paint my own closet," another pipes in.  Each child gave me the grand tour of their new home, pointing out their favorite aspects of the house.  Then we went outside again.”  I even got to mow the grass last night."“  Me too," added his sibling, wanting to be included.

"Got to mow the grass?”  I asked.  What child in 2009 speaks of this chore as if it is a privilege rather than a punishment?  I had to learn more about this exceptional family.

This family, by the way, is one of the newest families to partner with Habitat for Humanity to build and earn their own home.  The attitudes of the recipients impressed me.  Gratitude and hard-earned pride filled their hearts and spilled over into their conversations.

We set up a sprinkler to give the transplanted sprigs of grass a drink.  The three children ran through the bubbling fountain with abandon, joyful to experience this for the very first time.  It was as if they were on a famous water park ride somewhere, rather than working hard to get their house ready to move into.  The family witnessed a rainbow in the air, arching the spray of water with hope and promise.  Hope for a new life and promise of a home of their own.

Each homeowner is presented with a Bible at their house dedications.  The Habitat Web site says, "The work of Habitat for Humanity is driven by the desire to give tangible expression to the love of God through the work of eliminating poverty housing."

When I left the project site that night, I couldn't help but think that Jesus would be pleased.  When we have been kind to "one of the least of these" it is as if we have been kind to our very God.  I'm not sure this family is "one of the least of these" because, if truth were told, they impacted my life in a much bigger way than I could ever impact them.  Perhaps reciprocal gifts of this kind are exactly what Jesus had in mind when He encouraged us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  In the end, we are all blessed.

PRAYER: Father, help me see the needs around me, and step outside my comfort zone to minister to others in a new way.

“‘Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?’
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me,” Matthew 25:44-45 KJV.

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?  Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?  Or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” Matthew 25:37-40 KJV.
Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, pastor’s wife to many, author, editor, publicist, and speaker.  Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions.  Learn more at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.