Good morning, dear friends, I would like to share a short little story and a few thoughts with you today that I hope will bless and encourage you along your way:
"A store owner was tacking a sign in his store window, which read PUPPIES FOR SALE, when a little boy appeared. “How much are you selling the puppies for?” he asked. The man told the lad he didn’t expect to let any of them go for less than $50. The boy reached in his pocket, pulled out some change, looked up at the store owner and said, “I have two dollars and thirty-seven cents. Can I look at them?” The store owner smiled and whistled. From the kennel, a dog named Lady came running down the aisle, followed by five tiny balls of fur. One puppy lagged behind. Immediately, the little boy asked about the limping puppy. “What’s wrong with that doggie?” “The veterinarian told us the dog is missing a hip socket,” said the store owner. “He’ll always limp like that.” “That’s the one I want to buy,” the lad said quickly. The store owner replied, “No, you don’t want to buy that dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.” The boy came close to the store owner’s face and said angrily, “I don’t want you to just give him to me. That doggie is worth just as much as all the other puppies and I’ll pay the full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for!” The store owner replied, “No, no, no. You don’t want that dog. He’s never going to be able to run and jump and play like the other dogs.” In response, the little boy pulled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted left leg, supported by two steel braces. “Well, sir,” he said, “I don’t run so well myself and that puppy will need someone who understands.”
While reading this story, I began to understand that when God allows us to go through troubles and afflictions, He is preparing us to be a comfort to others because you really can't empathize with someone in distress unless you've walked in their shoes. You can try to comfort them with words and be there for them, but unless you've 'been there-done that' you have no idea what they're really going through and feeling inside. It takes someone who has endured that physical pain, who has suffered that devastating loss of a loved one, who has lost it all and been homeless, who has been abused and lost all self worth, who has tried to get over additions without success; just to name a few and unless you've gone through these trying times, you cannot truly understand how to empathize with them and bring them hope. This little boy knew he could care for this lame doggie because he too had endured and continued to deal with these same struggles.
Once we have overcome specific struggles through life, we are able to help others struggling with the same by sharing hope and expressing love as God directs us along the way. Psalm 34:19 tells us, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." and Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5,“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." God has certainly delivered us all from so many different circumstances and given peace and comfort like none other, but He does not comfort us simply to make us comfortable. God comforts us so we can comfort others. 'To everything there is a season' and Lord knows we've all been through lots of 'seasons' in our life, but God didn't leave us there. He was right there to deliver and set us free so we could comfort others and share the hope in Christ Jesus with them as well.
Dear friend, God may very well send someone along your way today who may seem to be less than mans standards indicate but who needs the love of God extended in their life. Will you allow God to use you to be His hand extended in word or deed as He directs? We don't have to understand the reasons why, He just needs us to be that willing vessel He can use to touch a life. He will give the words to say and the wisdom needed at that time if you will be open to His guidance. Think about it--you can change a life today by a simple task of love and understanding.. Have a blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~
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