Caring

Do you know someone who is sick? That person could be a sibling, parent, grandparent, other family member, or a friend. The person may have been or is in the hospital. Maybe they walk with some difficulty and need help from a cane or are in a wheel chair. The person you know may be blind or have trouble hearing. Or, perhaps their hand or arm doesn’t work right. The person may just be getting older and may not be able to do the things they once did. Whatever the difficulty or sickness that person has, they don’t want to be that way. They don’t want to be sick. They want to be able to walk, run, see, hear, think, and pick things up easily.

How do you feel about that person who is sick, blind, deaf, crippled, or cannot do things like they once could? Maybe you don’t know anyone who has an ailment. Maybe you have just seen someone who has an ailment. How do you respond to them? Do you help them? Do you stare at them? Are you impatient with them? Do you ignore them?

When Jesus was on the earth, people brought their loved ones who had ailments to Him. He looked at them, smiled at them, touched them, and helped them.  He loved them. He was God, so He was able to heal them. You and I cannot heal people, but we can do the next best thing. We can love them.

The next time you see someone who is in a wheel chair, using a cane, who is blind, or just different than you, smile at them. You can look for ways to help them like holding doors open for them, walking slower when you walk with them, and remembering to show kindness.

It is very difficult when the person who has an ailment lives with you at your house. He or she probably gets a lot of attention, because they need it. That person wants to be up and around, going and doing, and not needing help. That person doesn’t want to depend on braces, wheel chairs, canes, crutches, casts, guide dogs, special medicines, hearing aids, or someone to help them. They don’t want to be sick or have difficulties. They don’t want to get more attention; it is just what happens sometimes. Don’t be mad at the person getting the extra attention or the one giving the extra attention.

That person could be someone who is just getting older. It may be a grandparent that needs assistance. It can be tough when they live with you. Your parents have a huge job. They want to take care of you and have fun with you, but they also need to take care of their parent. Pray for your parents. Pray for the one who is ailing. You can also pray for yourself to be kind and patient to that person. Remember, one day someone may need to help you or take care of you more than they do now.

We need to be patient, kind, and loving with that person. We need to help when we can and not be jealous of the special treatment they get from others. They don’t get to enjoy life easily, so they need the special treatment. The have had to give up something like walking, running, working, hearing, seeing, breathing easily, or eating the same foods you do. You may need to give up some time for that person.

The Bible tells us to take care of the poor, sick, fatherless, and widows. This applies to anyone who needs our help. 1Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Acts 20:35b ...you must support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Memorize: 1Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. or Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated.