‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message)
I missed posting a picture of Summer on the first of the month for May, so here is one of her now. I tried to get one of her chasing her tail which never fails to make me laugh. We have never had a dog with a tail before so it is a constant source of amusement, especially when she starts twirling around in search of it. But, every time I get out the camera, she is more fascinated with it than her tail. I have not yet been successful in snapping a photo. I feel a little like Summer these days, chasing my tail. Lots going on at work, all the stuff to put away after our kitchen redo, preparations for company coming to stay with us in June, my summer stint at teaching Sunday School and several fundraisers for our July Guatemala trip. It all makes me feel like I am whirling and question whether anything I am doing is really worthwhile. Today, in the midst of getting ready for a family dinner and birthday party, I took a break to go to the funeral of one of my mom and dad’s long time friends. I knew her best when my kids were little; she gave a baby shower for each of my kids. One of her grandson’s was good friends with oldest son. In the last couple of months, we got reacquainted as she came to the hospital to see my mom when she had knee surgery. She was always helpful and kind, involved in many aspects of her church, but today, at her funeral I learned even more about her. One after another, people got up to say, “When I was a kid, she let me come live with them when I didn’t have any place to go.” “When I was playing softball with her girls, she always brought me a sandwich to practice because she knew I wouldn’t have time to get dinner.” “When I was in school, she sent me money for groceries.” “She threw a baby shower for me when I was pregnant.” “She babysat for free for our family so my parents could have some free time.” “She paid for a hotel room for me when I went to a family wedding.” “She was a trail angel, providing food and clothing for me when I hiked the Appalachian Trail.” “She paid for me to take piano lessons.” “She gave a scholarship so I could go to camp.” One young woman summed it up when she said, “I never heard her teach a Sunday School class or lead a devotional. She never preached a sermon. But, she taught us every day about God by the way she lived her life.” That’s the way I want to be. So, when I feel like Summer futilely whirling and twirling, I need to stop and ask, “Is what I am doing leading people to God?” If not, then I really am just chasing my tail.
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