| Our hair is perfect for lice!! |
In
Christ-like
Examples
(Don't worry Mom, it's just an acronym)
My professor at BYU called the Book of Luke the "Book of the Outcasts". Christ is constantly doing things that really tick off the Pharisees and leaders during that time. Often it's just by the crowd he hung out with...the outcasts. Like in Luke 11: 37 40, Christ sits downs with a Pharisee but didn't wash his hands, which really upset the dude because of all the rituals they had. The Pharisee's really emphasized being "clean", so not only would they not touch anything dirty (a sinner, someone with a disease, etc) but they also had very intensive cleaning processes. To break one of those laws, was a big no-no.
Luke 11"And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness."
Christ rebukes him, which probably didn't make the Pharisee feel too good. Christ really didn't care what you looked like on the outside, or what things you'd done in the past, he saw you for the potential you had, for your heart. Most of his ministry was spent among those who had serious diseases and were cast out from society, or sinners who were considered so unworthy. Christ saw them for the Sons and Daughters of God that they really were. It happens again and again.
SOOO how does this tie into my week??
Well this week we were sitting in a meeting for church, and the topic turned to helping a family that had lice. Their intentions really were to help this family, but of course some of the individuals there were not very enthused about the lice (and by that I mean they were pretty grossed out)
Well, after church, we were sitting in another meeting and we get a text from a member:
"Sisters...[person] thinks you might have lice...let me know".
Yeah, we booked it out of that meeting pretty fast and ran to the bathroom. Sure enough, we both had lovely little bugs crawling around our very long, thick, dark hair with all of their lovely little eggs being laid. Charming. We were pretty grossed out by ourselves, and went straight home, neither of us having a clue of what to do to cure lice. We have people we needed to see and were obviously pretty worried. We texted the member, and she showed one of the most Christ-like examples I've seen:
(Okay...its not just an acronym)
She came down to our apartment after getting to her house, which was a good 30 minutes away, armed with lice shampoo and all the things we needed to take care of it. She didn't stop there though--she stayed and helped us comb out all of those little bugs and eggs, which took well over an hour of tedious work. She didn't have to do any of that.
Many of the members would have gladly bought us the stuff and helped, but she actually was there face to face with it. She didn't even care, she was willing to do whatever necessary to help. That just really struck me. I'm not trying to degrade any of the other members, and honestly I don't really judge the Pharisees for not wanting to touch "unclean" things either; hanging out with lepers wouldn't necessarily be my hobby either. Christ could have easily healed people from a distance, and not touched any of them. He could have stayed what others considered "clean" the whole time. You know though, he loved those individuals so much, that he didn't care. He exposed himself, he was not physically "clean" by society's standards. But because of the great love he had he dealt with each person on a personal level, and ministered to their needs.
That is charity. When you "turn your arrows out" and focus more on how that other person feels, then your own concerns or needs.
This particular sister has demonstrated this many other times as well. She has adopted children because of her great love, in order to give them the home they deserve. She sees people as who they can become, and looks at their heart. She is a great mother figure to a lot of the kids around here who don't have the Mom they need. She doesn't care what you look like, where you come from, or even if you have lice.
I hope that I can follow that example. I hope that rather than any other natural response, I can just jump in, and help. I am so grateful that Christ sees more in me than I can see in myself. I'm one of the most imperfect people you will meet, and yet through him, I can be more than I would ever be otherwise. He has paid the price for me, and his church is restored. That's why I'm out here. To spread that knowledge.
Throughout your week, I hope you think of the invitation Christ gives in Luke 10 after sharing the Parable of the Samaritan:
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou
likewise.
Love y'all's guts!
Hermana McClune
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness."
Christ rebukes him, which probably didn't make the Pharisee feel too good. Christ really didn't care what you looked like on the outside, or what things you'd done in the past, he saw you for the potential you had, for your heart. Most of his ministry was spent among those who had serious diseases and were cast out from society, or sinners who were considered so unworthy. Christ saw them for the Sons and Daughters of God that they really were. It happens again and again.
SOOO how does this tie into my week??
Well this week we were sitting in a meeting for church, and the topic turned to helping a family that had lice. Their intentions really were to help this family, but of course some of the individuals there were not very enthused about the lice (and by that I mean they were pretty grossed out)
Well, after church, we were sitting in another meeting and we get a text from a member:
"Sisters...[person] thinks you might have lice...let me know".
Yeah, we booked it out of that meeting pretty fast and ran to the bathroom. Sure enough, we both had lovely little bugs crawling around our very long, thick, dark hair with all of their lovely little eggs being laid. Charming. We were pretty grossed out by ourselves, and went straight home, neither of us having a clue of what to do to cure lice. We have people we needed to see and were obviously pretty worried. We texted the member, and she showed one of the most Christ-like examples I've seen:
(Okay...its not just an acronym)
She came down to our apartment after getting to her house, which was a good 30 minutes away, armed with lice shampoo and all the things we needed to take care of it. She didn't stop there though--she stayed and helped us comb out all of those little bugs and eggs, which took well over an hour of tedious work. She didn't have to do any of that.
Many of the members would have gladly bought us the stuff and helped, but she actually was there face to face with it. She didn't even care, she was willing to do whatever necessary to help. That just really struck me. I'm not trying to degrade any of the other members, and honestly I don't really judge the Pharisees for not wanting to touch "unclean" things either; hanging out with lepers wouldn't necessarily be my hobby either. Christ could have easily healed people from a distance, and not touched any of them. He could have stayed what others considered "clean" the whole time. You know though, he loved those individuals so much, that he didn't care. He exposed himself, he was not physically "clean" by society's standards. But because of the great love he had he dealt with each person on a personal level, and ministered to their needs.
That is charity. When you "turn your arrows out" and focus more on how that other person feels, then your own concerns or needs.
This particular sister has demonstrated this many other times as well. She has adopted children because of her great love, in order to give them the home they deserve. She sees people as who they can become, and looks at their heart. She is a great mother figure to a lot of the kids around here who don't have the Mom they need. She doesn't care what you look like, where you come from, or even if you have lice.
I hope that I can follow that example. I hope that rather than any other natural response, I can just jump in, and help. I am so grateful that Christ sees more in me than I can see in myself. I'm one of the most imperfect people you will meet, and yet through him, I can be more than I would ever be otherwise. He has paid the price for me, and his church is restored. That's why I'm out here. To spread that knowledge.
Throughout your week, I hope you think of the invitation Christ gives in Luke 10 after sharing the Parable of the Samaritan:
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou
likewise.
| Alabama skies.... |
Love y'all's guts!
Hermana McClune
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