My cousin’s neighbor, Michelle, is the kind of person who collects strays. And I don’t mean dogs or cats, although she has collected a couple of those as well. I mean children.
These children aren’t out wandering the street alone necessarily, the way a dog would be, but they are strays nonetheless.
Michelle has children of her own, and she frequently hosts their football team and various other groups and school events at her house. She notices those kids that seem to be lacking food, clothes, love, and attention. She’s trained her own children to keep an eye open for kids who are falling through the cracks, for whatever reason.
Because of that she has helped dozens of children out of sad and dangerous circumstances. They have stayed with her family, sometimes for lengthy periods of time and sometimes with no notice.
I admire this kind of open-door generosity so much. What a beautiful gift Michelle has given to these children!
When I think about doing something like that — inviting strangers to live in my home — I think about my belongings, I’m ashamed to say. I don’t have any expensive jewelry, and the rest of my stuff isn’t great, to be honest. But I still think about things being stolen and damaged.
Between Michelle and me, Michelle is the one living out Jesus’s command, not me. She is the one living in love. She isn’t worried about her earthly junk, like me. She’s building up vast treasures in heaven.
Dear God,
Thank you for women like Michelle. Thank you for the wonderful things she does for lost children. And thank you for the example she has set for people like me. Please forgive my fear and selfish desire for privacy. Thank you for the house you have blessed me with. Show me the ways you want me to share my resources today and give me the courage to follow through.
CamDevo 