When You Don't Obey

Today, my 90-something year old neighbor passed away. I never met her. Her sweet husband, Fred (or Neighbor Fred as the girls call him) is always good for a conversation across the fence. He loves to know how the girls are. He tells great war stories-served in WWII and loved hearing about Ryan's trip to Germany as he was in most of the same places serving our country. Not only was he devoted to his country, but he was devoted to his sweetheart of nearly 65 years. Virginia has been house bound ever since we moved next door. And today, she quietly left this world and her Fred behind. The worst part about her passing is the uncertainty of where she will spend her eternity. I just don't know. My heart was heavy all day. When the aid car pulled into their driveway, I was bringing groceries into the house...and I just knew.

On my flight home from Minnesota Thursday night, I wrote in my journal about Fred & Virginia. At our Church Planter's Assessment this past week, I was freshly challenged to reach my neighbors in a new way. I wrote down a few ideas I had about practical ways I could serve them. I'm disappointed I didn't act sooner. The Lord had been subtly prompting me ("bring them flowers" or "bring them extra muffins") but I was way too caught up in my own needs that I keep ignoring the call. I can't beat myself up for it, but the reality is, I disobeyed the voice of the Lord. Living in guilt won't serve Fred. So instead, we now know exactly how we can be Jesus' hands and feet to sweet Fred.

How can you serve your neighbors today? Do you really know what their true needs are? I'm asking myself these questions too. Serving those around us in practical ways fights spiritual battles we never could on our own. I'm reminded of the verse in James 1 where he writes,

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I now have a tangible circumstance to relate to when reading this verse. I'm going to close this blog with a quick prayer for Fred. Pray along with me if you'd like.

Heavenly Father, I lift Fred before you. You know how his heart aches tonight. Lonely, confused and hurting-would you touch his life in a special way. I know he knows of You, but I don't know if He truly knows You. Would you open his heart as we reach out to him in a new way through his loss. Especially be with him tonight-his first night alone. In Your mighty, precious, powerful name...Amen.