God Love | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: God Love | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dolores Stohler
10/19/21
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My parents, in their wisdom, raised their children on what used to be called the Golden Rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. As Christians, we know this comes from the mouth of God Himself. (Galatians 5:14) And I believe it's an essential part of who you are as an American too. If anyone is ashamed of our country, they have no reason to be. Let me give you a few examples:

In the summer of 2020, when we were in the middle of the coronavirus epidemic, I stood in a local grocery store searching for something in the frozen food aisle. In back of me was another woman shopping as well. “Hello, friend,” she said with a smile and a nod. I did a double take because I'd never seen her before. Then I went back to shopping and, when I put something into my cart, spotted a small envelope with “friend“ written on the outside. Opening it, I pulled out a small card filled with messages on motherhood and $100 in ten dollar bills. Startled, I looked around for my unknown friend, but she was gone. Now that is what I call “God Love”, a gift given in secret with no thanks expected. And more and more I'm seeing examples of this in my community.

As a widow of advanced age, I have often looked out my window on a snowy morning, before the sun was up, and seen someone shoveling my walk and drive. They're warmly dressed with a scarf covering their face so I have no idea who they are. If I open my door, they're gone in a flash. This has happened a number of times. And then there's the young man who mowed my front lawn last summer without telling me first. But I was sitting near the window reading a book so I heard the lawn mower and smelled the grass. When I saw him, I ran to thank him and offer him money which he refused. “I did it because I love this work,” he said with a grin. “Any time you need me, I'll be glad to do it again.” What an inspiration he was.

When I think about it, the epidemic seemed to bring out the best in all my neighbors. Small acts of kindness were done by many who kept their distance but offered help when needed, or some who had lost their jobs and just wanted to do something worth while.. There was my friend and neighbor (a school teacher out of work) who appeared on the doorstep with a plate full of homemade cookies just before Christmas. And the friendly mail carrier who tramped through piles of snow to my door on a blustery day to deliver a stack of mail because she didn't want me to go to the mailbox in that stormy weather.

But probably the very best example of Christian love comes from my handyman who, knowing I no longer own or drive a car, goes out of his way to drive to the hardware store to buy the parts I need for a project he's working on. He never charges me for this and gives me a huge discount on the work because he says I'm special. Well, of course, he's the one who's special. He recently made the statement, “My clients are all my friends. I'm doing this work because I love helping them. It's not really about the money.”

This, I believe, is what America is all about: neighbors helping neighbors. And it's happening all around the country. There are millions of Americans who are kind hearted and generous, willing to do their part to help in any kind of need or crisis. If you haven't experienced this kind of God Love in your own life, maybe it's time you went out and volunteered.

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