HAPPY Saturday, By the way do you know what "et cetera" means in Latin? Does it mean "And the others"; More to come; The rest of them; or, Furthermore; please make a choice of what it means. Just a hint: It is a Latin phrase.
Saturday 6/3
Prov. 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed."
The next issue that this Proverb deals with is the issue of defending those who are unable tp speak. This entails those who either have no voice, or are unable to be among the community due to illness, etc. The idea here is that we should take up the cause of the unheard. We do this by taking time to talk to them & hear their concerns and secondly to make sure that these concerns are considered by our leaders.
I have noticed that one of the greatest human needs is to be considered vital enough to be considered when decisions are being made that affect them. In our world today we have a greater ability to be heard, by telephone, or internet. Many times, however, people all around us feel isolated, whether by their silence, or by our absence. It seems to them that the world is moving on when they are unable to participate in any way.
Early in my childhood our family would visit rest homes in our area of Missouri on Sunday afternoon, to just talk with people who were unable to get out of bed. We would sing to them, you know those sometimes even childish songs like "This Little Light of Mine". They would always appreciate someone just caring about them, I noticed they especially appreciated having children coming to visit them, and to attempt to get to know them.
This was something that I didn't understand the true value of until being unable to make that contact myself. Shortly after returning home from the hospital from my covid incident. I was reminded of the importance of being cared for, as my children & grandchildren came to visit me. I believe that this was one of the hardest things to face of this covid epidemic was the lack of human contact that was required during this time. Now looking back we realize just how important social interaction is to everyone.
We all saw people who were dying being unable to make contact with their loved ones, as seen on T.V. Though the phone & internet is better than nothing, that human contact is vital to being able to communicate your being cared for. When social distancing, and being cut off from loved ones, we realized was one of the greatest hardships in life.
It is so easy to get busy & then to forget those words of love & caring, but they are such vital times in our life. Aren't they???
So Go With God determine to take an interest in those you love & yes even those around you. Wherever you may find yourself. As they say, "Stop & smell the roses." We all have people around our lives who have very little contact with friends & family. If we will listen to the Spirit, He will guide us to care for them. Just a smile is a most powerful form of communication.
This week I went to see a skin doctor and as she entered the room, I gave her a warm smile & a few simple words of welcome, which aren't uncommon for me. But she was taken back by my interest in her. For how my words expressing personal concern for her & to welcome her were spoken.
For a moment she stopped and was visibly shaken by our brief encounter, she apologized for her reaction of tears. Then in her embarrassment she stopped and ask the nurse to leave the room, and then she spoke of her own personal concerns, for her loved ones.
She ended our brief conversation by saying, "I don't know why I am telling you this, except that I feel that you are genuinely concerned for my well being". I ask her if I could pray for her & she blurted out "Oh would you please." Then after a few seconds she adjusted her composure and called the nurse back in & she continued her care for my concerns.
That incident caused me to be reminded of the need that we all have to be cared for. How being heard more deeply than just a courteous greeting, is so needed in our world. Why not today just reach out to someone in your life who you haven't made contact with recently and just express your care for them? As the song goes from John Lennon "Help" I need somebody" Then the chorus says this, "Help me if you can, I'm feeling down, and I do appreciate you being round, Help me get my feet back on the ground, Won't you please, please help me?" This song still continues to be one of the most listened to songs on the internet.
Those who feel unheard, untouched, need our words in their lives, for they are feeling crushed by life. In case you don't believe it, just go to some public place, and just ask this simple question to a few people, who aren't intently focused on something. Go ahead ask it ... Are You doing O.K.? Just notice the reaction.
Just remember, you are loved my dear one, you make a difference by your very life.
The rest of them