At an early age, I was taught compassion for people. My siblings and I were raised in a parsonage on a block with decent homes, green grass, and beautiful trees. Our beautifully constructed stoned and stained-glass window, a substantial-sized church with a spacious parking lot, was next to our house on a corner lot in Germantown, Pennsylvania. There were two astounding mansions two blocks from the parsonage. Although the houses were nicely constructed on the outside, from an eight-year-old's viewpoint, the people were eerie and mysterious. They were the misfortunate in society. Both young and old were mentally ill. They walked around with cigarettes in their mouths, unconcerned, apathetic, and slow-moving. However, although sick, their families invested financially in their home life.
Reflecting on my mother's life, she was a woman of character, courage, value, compassion, and strength. She had a burden to help people needing help in any way possible. These people would walk past our home, and at times, they would visit our church. Some would ask for a match to light their cigarette, and others would converse with us. I'll never forget one person who had a lovely voice and would sing to us as if she were ministering to a church congregation. As young people, we didn't mock her but embraced one of her strengths: her voice.
No matter what mental illness these people had, we never saw them as a threat; we were taught to pray for them and treat them respectfully. Through our mother's interactions, we learned that God loves humanity. Race, gender, weight, socioeconomic background, church denomination, etc., did not matter. She taught us that God meets everyone where they are; therefore, he has called us to meet people where they are without judgment. We were called to be conduits of love and faith. As we were created in His image, we were to have respect for all of His creation. We listened, prayed, and provided for their needs, hoping their circumstances would eventually change.
Our mother understood her why. Today, we understand our why. How about you?
What is your why? Why do you exist? Do you need help answering this question?
If so, contact me!
"For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).