HIS GOOD PURPOSE

THINK  this over---and do not come to some quick judgement, but instead listen to the facts.



 I spend time with the ladies at The Well who  are not in the best of health.  For various reasons, they do not have the best of habits when it comes to maintaining good health.  After a while, these bad habits will catch up with you.  The good news is the leaders at The Well now have a dietician who is meeting with the ladies and we are providing an exercise class a couple of times a week.  The dietician is focusing on having healthy choices in the pantry and how those choices can be used to help with a better diet.  I really laugh to myself when the interns (recent college graduates) fuss at the ladies who are diabetic about the grams of sugar in their selections.  The ladies are middle age and up---the daughters are teaching the elders.  A lifetime of bad habits is not easy to overcome and old habits die slowly.

NO matter how you feel about those in poverty and how they got there---poverty is a very real thing in our society.  I have a story to tell--and I want you to ponder the facts before throwing a comment out.  This is daunting ~


One of the ladies has recently been diagnosed with a serious cancer.  She has no transportation, she is middle aged, her landlord is less than reliable at keeping the property up to par, she is classified below the poverty line, and she has limited education.  She will have to make the trip to Shreveport (70 miles to the treatment center) five days a week for some time to have chemo and radiation treatments.  She is at the mercy of the transportation system provided by the system.  The first indication of what a nightmare this could be was when they failed to pick her up for her first PET scan.  She really has no idea what is ahead, but all of us, who have helped care for loved ones who went through this, understand.  She is not going to feel good---at best.  She still will have to worry about transportation showing, getting her prescriptions, managing pain and discomfort, meals, and trying to continue her babysitting job.   Cancer in itself is daunting, but add on to that living in poverty and it is overwhelming.  I am overwhelmed for her.  How to help while maintaining her dignity and independence is daunting to say the least.  We will work to serve our friend as she makes this journey.


 The question becomes are you being nudged by God to be a good neighbor?  In what ways might you be able to help someone God is showing you?  The Well would love to tell you of the opportunities to stand along side our neighbors such as this.  What could be more satisfying than to know you are answering the call to build community and serve those in need?  This quote from Oswald Chambers beautifully sums up this calling ~


"Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing."


"For we are God's masterpiece.

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."


Ephesians 2:10

2 comments

  1. Such a heartbreaking story, Lulu. I know that all of you at The Well will step up to help this woman in her time of need. We certainly do need to be present for our brothers and sisters.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is really daunting, Martha.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!