When Someone Asks for Help...

     A baggie, full to the brim and sealed tightly, had been kicked around on the floor of our car for weeks. In it were supplies and small items someone might be able to use when in need and a note of encouragement listing emergency numbers. Although there were people at street corners occasionally, the right moment never seemed to come along.

     One afternoon I was on my way to pick up Al from the gym and happened to see a person walking on the sidewalk holding a sign. The traffic light was green however, and there were cars behind me. I couldn’t stop without causing an accident, but looked at the individual and was shocked to see that it was a young woman. Her long brown hair flowed out underneath a ski hat. She was wearing gloves and seemed warm enough; still, it was too cold for anyone to be standing outside for long.

     The words on her cardboard sign were hard to read, raising questions in my mind. What had happened to put her in this vulnerable and potentially dangerous situation? Did she have a home, family and loved ones who cared about her?

     Soon thoughts of the girl faded away. Yet I remembered to pray for her that evening and early the next morning. It’s not often that you see a young person standing on the corner asking for help. She reminded me of the daughter of our friends in Porterville.

     When Al needed a ride home from the gym for the second day in a row, I drove along my usual route. Again there was someone standing near that same corner with a cardboard sign. This time, I grabbed the baggie of supplies, the “Packet of Hope,” just in case,

     The light turned red when I reached the corner and came to a stop, motioning to catch the person’s attention. It was a surprise when the same young lady came to the window on the passenger side of the car, smiling. As she took the baggie, I told her that I had seen her there the day before and asked how things were going.

     “Well they’re coming along,” she responded. It was a vague reply but she sounded pretty positive anyway. The only other bit of information was that her name was Sam!

     Then the light changed and I had to go. That was the last time I saw her. Could I have helped her more? Probably! There just wasn’t time to figure out a plan of action.

     Maybe this is how a Bethlehem innkeeper felt the night that two people appeared at his door. He could see that they had come from a long distance away—the woman, obviously pregnant, riding on a donkey, the man walking along beside her. It was apparent that they didn’t have a lot of money.    Questions also must have filled his mind.

     “No room,” was his response to their inquiry. A harsh answer for the couple from Nazareth, Joseph and Mary, to hear.

     How did the innkeeper feel when they left? Could he have done more? And who showed them the way to a small stable or a cave in the hillside used to shelter animals? Maybe it was the innkeeper himself or maybe it was his idea...if he had time to think of a plan of action. The scripture doesn’t reveal these details, just that there was no room in the inn and that the woman, Mary wrapped her newborn baby in cloths and placed him in a manger.

     Let’s stop for a moment and ask ourselves what we would have done in the same situation as the innkeeper. Would we have made them leave and then have missed the amazing opportunity to be present at the birth of Jesus, God’s Son?

     Lord, help me, help us all to be open to help those in need. As you have so lavishly loved and provided for us, may we also provide for others. Please forgive us when we don’t act as we should or miss opportunities you bring our way. In Jesus’ name Amen.

“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10: 8b NIV

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7 NIV

Merry Christmas! with love from AL & Judy, T.J and Teddy