The Little things
Just this morning I took a gift of money to an old holocaust survivor. She came into my life 6 years ago and now dropping by to see her first thing every morning is part of my daily routine. This time when I arrived she was very down in the dumps. "I only have 60 shekels ($15) left, it's so hard living like this" She lives on a small Israeli pension and she still had a couple of weeks to go before the next payment into her account. She told me that when things get tight for her she finds herself having to choose between buying food or medication. Purchases that the average person takes for granted when they go shopping, she has to agonize over time and time again. It makes her depressed and at times she wonders why she has to struggle at her age for every little thing. When she really gets down in the dumps, she begins to wonder what is the point to her life. I listened, not wanting to interrupt her from pouring out her heart. She had been alone for so long before we met, and it took years before she could fully open up to me.
"I have something for you" and I handed her an envelope with money, given by caring Christians from the USA. She opened it and her whole face lit up with joy. 'I can buy a six pack of diet coke", 'No, I can get some bedroom slippers", 'I can buy all my medication at one time". On and on she went telling me all the ways she could use the money. How I wished that the kind hearted ones who had given this gift could see the joy that they had given to this old lady. 'Christine, its not the amount of money that is so wonderful to me, it's just that now I have the ability to make choices." " In fact I don't feel like I want to die anymore."
As I got up to leave, she said kept repeating over and over "God put you in my life".
As I walked home I thought "No, Jetta, God put you in my life!". Being able to touch her life and give her so much joy, even for those brief moments, made me feel like my life had value and purpose. Thank you Jetta !!
'So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12
"I have something for you" and I handed her an envelope with money, given by caring Christians from the USA. She opened it and her whole face lit up with joy. 'I can buy a six pack of diet coke", 'No, I can get some bedroom slippers", 'I can buy all my medication at one time". On and on she went telling me all the ways she could use the money. How I wished that the kind hearted ones who had given this gift could see the joy that they had given to this old lady. 'Christine, its not the amount of money that is so wonderful to me, it's just that now I have the ability to make choices." " In fact I don't feel like I want to die anymore."
As I got up to leave, she said kept repeating over and over "God put you in my life".
As I walked home I thought "No, Jetta, God put you in my life!". Being able to touch her life and give her so much joy, even for those brief moments, made me feel like my life had value and purpose. Thank you Jetta !!
'So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12
posted by Christine | 3:25 PM
2 Comments:
There are some poignant and touching stories here. Thanks for the insight.
If more stories were told about the real Israeli's the vile lies about Israel would cease. I will try to tell the truth, little by little. Thanks for your encouragement.
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