Last week we went to a festival called Octoberfest. It is filled with yummy food, live music, and lots of fun people. We tried all the different foods including: handmade grape juice, German sausage, cheesy mushrooms, Oreo crepe, and so much more. We bought handmade jewelry and danced away. It was a fun time.
But there was also something we witnessed that really bothered my heart.
When we were sitting down, this sweet elderly woman walks up to us and tried to sell us her flowers. We asked how much they were and she said 5 lei. That is not even 2 dollars for a cute bouquet of flowers. So we bought two bouquets and even though there was no real reason we needed these flowers, it was sweet to bless her and see her smile.
But then this random dude sitting next to us said, “She only wants your money.”
We kindly responded with a “it’s okay. We want to bless her.”
So then, a few minutes later, one of our homeless friends walked by us. We waved him down and said hi!! We were excited to see him. He is our friend and we see him every Monday during a gathering for the homeless our host holds. He came over and we just said hello and exchanged some hi fives! We then saw more of our friends with him! It was so sweet to see them and they were so happy to see us.
But then, that same man from earlier, told us we shouldn’t talk to those men because they were gypsies. He said it the most condemning and harsh way. Like, they were not worth our time. Like they were dirty. So naturally, we all shot back and said to this man,
“Okay. But they are also our friends”
And ya know what? I think Jesus would say the same thing (and maybe a little more sassy too!)
A few days later, we went to clean a lady’s home. This woman can’t move a lot due to her being extremely overweight. So with great honor we cleaned her home and talked to her for a little bit. She showed us pictures and shared how her husband died a few years ago. I sat next to her and hugged her tightly. She then asked us why we looked at her that way.
She said, “Why do you look at me like I am beautiful when I am so ugly?”
My heart broke again.
Situation after situation kept happening where we saw people who felt worthless. We saw people who were completely rejected by society. It hurt and I felt like there was nothing I can do.
But I could love and I think that is sometimes enough.
I thank God that He allows our hearts to break for people. I thank God because He has opened my eyes to see how people are being treated. How they are being left out, told they are not beautiful, and discriminated simply by the way they look or where they come from.
I thank God He has allowed us to see people exactly how He created them, beautiful and important.
So friends, we need to ask ourselves some questions…
How do we love?
Do we only love those who are easy and beautiful to look at?
Or do we even love the weird ones? the ones that make us uncomfortable? the ones we don’t understand?
Do we love everyone with the fullness of how God has loved us?
Do we?
I have to ask myself this daily. I have to ask God to renew my mind, heart, and spirit to really love His people. This is not always easy for me and I fail often. But God, He always fills in the gap. God has to renew my mind everyday so that I can love His creation the way they desire to be loved.
Jesus says, COME AS YOU ARE.
Let ANYONE who is thirsty COME (Revelation 22:17)
Let them know ME by how you love each other (John 13:35)
So to end this blog, here is a quote that is so powerful:
“People may hate us because of Jesus, but they should never hate Jesus because of us. The way we treat others should lead them to only one conclusion:
‘If this is how Jesus loves, then I’m in.’”
Word. Love you all.
