They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." - 1 John 3:16

I'm appalled every time I think about what the great leader, Mahatma Gandhi, said about Christians. He said "I'd be a Christian if it were not for the Christians." I'm horrified because it's true many times and in many ways. But today I'm not going to talk about all Christians in general, but a particular Christian that I know the most: myself. So I'm going to change from a preachy tone to a more introspective one. Some time ago I talked about my firm belief that God will take care of us in whatever situation we face. However do I care when others are suffering?

I love my children and I suffer when they suffer. I love my wife and so many times I have asked God to give me her pain in exchange for anything. I care for them deeply and I would even die for them if necessary. Still the question remains, do I care for others?

When somebody expresses a need or an unfortunate event in Facebook, it's so easy for me to give a sad or love emoticon. It's easy for me to offer prayers for healing, hope and comfort. But do I really care?

Some time ago I volunteered for a hospice company and was assigned an Alzheimer's patient. I visited with her every week and talked with her and read books to her. I took my guitar and sang happy songs with her. Sometimes she even got me to dance with her to my total embarrassment, but enjoyment, nonetheless. I never left her home without praying with her and her relatives who were with her at the moment. One day her daughter called me apart and with tears in her eyes told me that she had been praying the day I first arrived in her home. She was distressed about putting her mom in hospice care. She specifically asked God for a sign of hope, to help her understand that everything would be fine. To my surprise, she told me that I was the answer to her prayer. I thanked her for her kind words and thanked God for putting me at the right place at the right time. Now, the question still remains, do I care when many others are suffering?

Do I really care when thousands of people are dying daily around the world? It breaks my heart. I cannot even imagine what the victims of the pandemic are going through. I cannot imagine how their families are suffering. I admire the doctors, nurses, and first responders that are at the front lines of the outbreak every day. Please take a moment right now to pray for them.

What am I doing to help? I follow social isolation rules and wear a facial mask when I go out of my home. I keep the appropriate distance when entering the grocery store. When I see people worried and, in a hurry, I let them pass first. I wave and smile at my neighbors when I take the dog for a walk. I continue teaching my students online every day& wait a second, that doesn't count! I'm being paid for that. Anyway, I feel like I'm not doing enough.

I'm not doing enough when others lost their jobs due to the pandemic. I'm not doing enough when others don't have enough food at the table. I'm not doing enough when single mothers can't take care of their children and go to work as well. My prayer today is "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

Would you comment what can you do to help others in this time of need?

1
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

Chorus
And they'll know we are Christians
by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians
by our love.

2
We will walk with each other,
we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other,
we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news
that God is in our land.

3
We Will work with each other,
we will work side by side;
We will work with each other,
we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each ones's dignity
and save each one's pride.

4
All praise to the Father,
from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, God's only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

Words and Music by Peter Scholtes