Are you good to the people around you? – 27 February 2023
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
KumaHeberu 13
Imiyalo eyizinhlobonhlobo
NgokukaMathewu 25
Years ago, after Ivy Olsen’s divorce, she moved with her two young sons to a small apartment. Her salary as a receptionist at the doctor’s surgery was meager, and there was little food in the house.
On Thanksgiving day in America, Ivy got up with a heavy heart. They only had three hot dogs left in the house. To prevent the feeling of powerlessness from overwhelming her, Ivy decided to take the boys to a nearby park to play there.
After the picnic, where they ate the last hotdogs, they started walking home. The boys told Ivy how hungry they were. It was like a dagger through her heart because she knew there were no food in the house, and no money to buy any.
At the apartment building, Ivy and her sons began to climb the stairs. Suddenly a door opened in one of the apartments on the ground floor and an elderly woman with a broad smile appeared. She stopped Ivy and the boys and announced that she had prepared dinner for them. Although she refused at first, Ivy and the boys accepted the invitation.
Upon entering the hostess’s home, Ivy and her sons immediately felt at home. It was a cozy evening next to a table groaning under the delicious food. After dinner, the woman put the leftovers in containers and sent it home with Ivy.
The next morning Ivy wanted to return the containers and thank the woman once again. She knocked on the door. When she did not get an answer, Ivy peered through the window. Shocked, she saw that the apartment was completely empty. All the furniture was gone. She immediately went to the caretaker of the apartment building to find out what had happened to the woman. He looked at Ivy strangely and said that he didn’t know what she was talking about. That apartment had already been empty for 10 to 12 weeks.
Ivy’s testimony reminded me of the words in Hebrews 13:1-2: “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says: “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Scripture verses: NIV)
Sometimes God uses us to be good to people in need, and sometimes he sends angels to show us that he truly cares for us. God bless.
Prayer: Father God, thank you very much for being close to us when we suffer. Please help me to keep my eyes open for opportunities where I can be good to the people around me today. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen
