Monday 23 July 2018
This past May, I went on a Christian America-Israel tour. The people I met on the tour were all Christians. I can’t tell you how good it felt to be among them as it was the first time I felt I ‘belonged’.
We all were very fortunate as we had a couple of pastors traveling with us. We were blessed with short bible verses, a few beautiful and heartwarming testimonies from members in our group and Morgan our Gospel singer delighted us with his voice as he sang with such a fervor in bringing praise and glory to the Lord. All this while traveling on the bus.
It was the day we were going to visit the Petra ruins. When we arrived there, we all had to walk a mile or more to the ruins. It was already getting quite warm, probably about in the 80’sF.
I noticed Morgan walking with Julie on his arm. I was surprised to see him without his wife as she is always with him.
I thought he could use help from me by holding his other arm for the walk. I caught up with them and offered Morgan my right arm while I asked what happened to Deb, his wife. Julie explained that she had offered his wife to assist Morgan to the ruins so that she could go and take photos so they could show them to family and friends.
I thought that was a nice gesture but didn’t think about it any further until later in the day. As I was walking with them, I could feel myself becoming restless as we were walking quite a slow pace so I eventually let go of his arm.
The road was becoming more uneasy and rough to walk, yet Julie stayed with him throughout the afternoon.
Later, when I thought of Julie, I thought of how unselfish she’d shown herself and how generous in giving and kindness she had been towards Morgan and his wife, wow. I was humbled by what I’d witnessed earlier.
Imagine, rather than enjoying her time at Petra with her husband, Julie spent her time helping Morgan so that his wife would have the opportunity taking photos.
I thought of her wonderful compassion for other human beings, such humbleness and grace. I admired her for putting Morgan’s needs, a near stranger, ahead of her own.
What Julie did for Morgan and his wife Deb is exactly what Jesus teaches us… She probably made Jesus smile
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
Thank you Lord for this exemplary lesson!
