Greetings to all:.
Firstly, Apologies for the length but I felt it necessary to fully explain the situation. Secondly, I apologize for becoming too political in some areas but this entire situation really got my goat and I’m still ‘mentally digesting’ it and praying on it. I know God will give me clarity in time but as of yet I’m still seeking His guidance.
Today I witnessed an upsetting event. An elderly lady (90+ years) apparently came out of the grocery store immediately before me and fo... more
Greetings to all:.
Firstly, Apologies for the length but I felt it necessary to fully explain the situation. Secondly, I apologize for becoming too political in some areas but this entire situation really got my goat and I’m still ‘mentally digesting’ it and praying on it. I know God will give me clarity in time but as of yet I’m still seeking His guidance.
Today I witnessed an upsetting event. An elderly lady (90+ years) apparently came out of the grocery store immediately before me and found she had a flat tire. As I approached I watched her ask two young men (18 and 40 maybe) for help, Each ignored her or just said no. As I got closer I heard her ask a woman (30 years) if she could call someone to help her. This young woman ignored her as if this elderly woman didn’t even exist!
As I finally got close enough to this elderly woman she was visibly upset and close to tears. Me, being a big guy I think this woman was either afraid to speak to me or had resigned herself to trying to figure out another solution for her tire. Anyway, introduced myself and asked if she needed help. I found out her name was Ethel and she was desperate for help. She owned no cell phone, did not belong to AAA, did not know how to change a tire and even if she did I knew she could not handle the weight of a jack or tire.
After I changed her tire Ethel offered 1.00 which she embarrassingly admitted was all she had after buying groceries. I did not accept, of course but the entire experience has been playing over and over in my all day. How can anyone not offer to help? How can anyone ignore another human being in distress? How have we as a society come to this?
Matthew 7:7 tells us, “ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” This assures us that God wants us to succeed in our goals and strongly encourages us to seek whatever means necessary to achieve them, specifically asking Him and when appropriate others for their help. Did Christ not seek the assistance of John the Baptist in order to be baptized to fulfill His will? (Matthew 3:13-17).
Galatians 6:2 goes on to tell us “ Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ". Throughout the Bible we see many examples of helping others, some might say the entire Bible is a lesson of helping others (along with prayer and other important lessons).
I think, in my own person; humble opinion if we as a society offered more assistance and understanding to everyone, both friend and foe alike and lived a more Christian like life it would surely make our Father more happy with all of us. Luke 6:3 reminds of this when he states do unto others as you would have done unto you (paraphrasing).
I also learned Ethel was a retired elementary schools librarian and lived on a fixed income. So happens she lives on a farm not far from my house by herself. Her husband died from a farm accident after only three years of marriage leaving her alone with no children. Her only sister died when a toddler from pneumonia leaving her completely alone for most of her 90 some years. I realized Ethel was lonely and needed help in many areas of her life so my wife and I decided to “adopt” Ethel. She is now our unofficial Grandma. God turned a bad situation into good one.
Thanks for reading this long post.
CAA Lee P Leiby
Priory Of St Michael the Arch Angel
”Fides et Veritas“
