Not sure why but I woke up doing some reminiscing about Honduras. It has been 12 years since I lived in that beautiful country and yet the events God brought to mind this morning seemed as close as yesterday.
I was standing outside the Bible school with several of the young men who were studying. We had a taken a break in between classes and were enjoying a soda and a snack from a nearby concession stand. There was one older gentleman there who had come to the city to study from somewhere in the mountains. I can't recall his name but I do remember that he always had a pleasant smile and sought to please. It was obvious that he had not had much education and he could barely read. What he did have was a desire to study God's word and he spent long hours doing his best.
On this morning he walked out smiling and began to talk with the rest of us. I must admit that I was too consumed with our conversation to notice that he was the only one without a snack. Suddenly one of the other young men reached into his pocket, pulled out two Honduran dollars, and gave them to the man telling him to go and buy himself a snack and a pint of milk. I felt ashamed because I had not been paying attention to the fact that he did not have a snack. Two Honduras dollars was only about 12 cents for me but for these guys it was real money.
Another time I came out of my office and saw of couple of guys drinking a soda. Another student asked them where they had gotten the drinks. One of them smiled and said, "two guys came by from out of town and, as they were leaving, they invited us to a soda." Again, I was a little taken aback. In America almost every house has a refrigerator full of sodas, sweet tea, bottled water, etc. To these guys a soda was a treat that they didn't have every day.
As I contemplate these things this morning I am reminded of all the things I take for granted. Today I arose from a comfortable bed with an electric blanket into a home that was well heated with gas heat. I will enjoy a breakfast as large as I care to cook or buy. I will ride to work in a vehicle with a heater instead of walking or running to catch a bus. I will sit in an office with heat. At lunchtime I will not have to wonder if there will be enough to eat. The biggest problem will be deciding what I want to eat.
The list could go on. I do not feel bad for having these comforts. I wish everyone had them. I believe them to be a blessing from God and I know I can't feed the whole world. Yet I must admit that I so often complain about things that are trivial when I have so much. On my worst days I have enjoyed a life far better than many will do on their best days.
Lord, help me to remember that you have blessed me far more than I am worthy. If I am tempted to complain, forgive me. Help me to love others unconditionally as you have loved me. Amen
Thankfully,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
I was standing outside the Bible school with several of the young men who were studying. We had a taken a break in between classes and were enjoying a soda and a snack from a nearby concession stand. There was one older gentleman there who had come to the city to study from somewhere in the mountains. I can't recall his name but I do remember that he always had a pleasant smile and sought to please. It was obvious that he had not had much education and he could barely read. What he did have was a desire to study God's word and he spent long hours doing his best.
On this morning he walked out smiling and began to talk with the rest of us. I must admit that I was too consumed with our conversation to notice that he was the only one without a snack. Suddenly one of the other young men reached into his pocket, pulled out two Honduran dollars, and gave them to the man telling him to go and buy himself a snack and a pint of milk. I felt ashamed because I had not been paying attention to the fact that he did not have a snack. Two Honduras dollars was only about 12 cents for me but for these guys it was real money.
Another time I came out of my office and saw of couple of guys drinking a soda. Another student asked them where they had gotten the drinks. One of them smiled and said, "two guys came by from out of town and, as they were leaving, they invited us to a soda." Again, I was a little taken aback. In America almost every house has a refrigerator full of sodas, sweet tea, bottled water, etc. To these guys a soda was a treat that they didn't have every day.
As I contemplate these things this morning I am reminded of all the things I take for granted. Today I arose from a comfortable bed with an electric blanket into a home that was well heated with gas heat. I will enjoy a breakfast as large as I care to cook or buy. I will ride to work in a vehicle with a heater instead of walking or running to catch a bus. I will sit in an office with heat. At lunchtime I will not have to wonder if there will be enough to eat. The biggest problem will be deciding what I want to eat.
The list could go on. I do not feel bad for having these comforts. I wish everyone had them. I believe them to be a blessing from God and I know I can't feed the whole world. Yet I must admit that I so often complain about things that are trivial when I have so much. On my worst days I have enjoyed a life far better than many will do on their best days.
Lord, help me to remember that you have blessed me far more than I am worthy. If I am tempted to complain, forgive me. Help me to love others unconditionally as you have loved me. Amen
Thankfully,
Rev. Sullivan Jones