I received a call from the Kidney Foundation
yesterday asking if we had anything to donate
next week since their truck would be in
our neighborhood.
I replied "Yes, I have a box of things to donate and
will have them out at the door on the designated day."
Last month I received the same call and I said "No,
I don't believe I have anything for you."
The disappointed voice on the other end said
"Even if it's only one item, a pair of shoes, a
sweater, a kitchen item, a stack of magazines
you no longer want and are throwing away, we'll
take them!"
It made me rethink my answer...
was saying "No." a lazy response on my part?
So I changed my mind.
I agreed I must have "something" for them.
To my surprise I had 2 boxes of items and 2 trash bags
of clothing! I was amazed what I could come up
with to donate to them! I've always been fond of
that charity having kidney issues when I was a wee
one. A good friend and co-worker of many years
died of kidney disease. One of my "adopted" daughters,
received a kidney transplant that saved her life.
Plus others that have called
on the Kidney Foundation for help. They are
very willing to help in anyway they can.
Well, I was cleaning up the desk drawer
(okay it wasn't quite this bad)
and ran across a newspaper or magazine article that
my dear friend Cindy sent me.
It was an article written by Sister Mary Thill
called "Spiritually Speaking".
Her topic was
"How to respond in these trying times"
In the article she quotes St Basil the Great,
The bread you do not use is the bread of
the poor.
The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of
(someone) who is naked.
The shoes you do not wear are the
shoes of one who is barefoot.
The money you keep locked away is the
money of the poor.
The acts of charity you do not perform
are so many injustices you commit.
It reminds me of the words of our Savior,
Jesus Christ in Matthew 25:31-40
When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him, he will sit
on his throne in heavenly glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate the people one from
another as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. He will put the sheep on his
right and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father:
take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink,
I was a stranger and
you invited me in,
I needed clothes and
you clothed me,
I was sick and
you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Then the righteous will answer him,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something
to drink? When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? When did we see you sick or
in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply,
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for
one of the least of these brothers of mine,
you did for me.'
Of course scripture goes on to tell what happens to those
that have not helped others in some way.
I'm trying to stay positive here... so you get the gist I'm sure.
These are very hard times for most of us.
We have to be very careful with our funds and with our
trust in others. But we can give a bit of what we are NOT
using, even if it's a can of soup.
It's something!
It's something to the person that will receive it!
It's means a great deal to our Lord!
PLEASE don't think this post is a guilt trip!
This post is just as much for ME as anyone.
When times get hard it's hard for me to feel
benevolent. But I'm changing thanks to that
darling lady that called me last month from
the National Kidney Foundation.
I love you dear friends!
May the Lord bless you and keep you
til we meet again...
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