The Least

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. . ."   James 1:27


Pure love, pure working out of our faith is caring for the "least of these."  Those who can't help themselves.  The poor, lonely, crying ones whose despair crushes them every day.  These aching, mournful ones who in the beginning of their young lives have found themselves without someone to watch over their growing years.  The grief of having parents die only to be followed immediately by the lostness- not knowing where to go, or whom to trust, or what to eat.  Begging or wandering on open streets, open to sickness, or kidnapping, or worse.  Alone in the world without a soul caring whether they live or die, so they do neither.  Wandering or stealing, only to survive.  Orphaned.


And then there are the lonely wives who have tasted the sweetness of love and marriage, only to have their joy and livelihood die and leave them alone.  The widow who remembers the comfort of making a home and cooking good, filling meals for her husband.  Fullness and purpose now vanished, money dwindling, left to stare at walls of memories.  No one calls, no one cares, she is forgotten.  Forgotten by the good church folk down the road who are busy with their own lives.  Forgotten by the relatives who may send a Christmas card only because her name is on the list.  Forgotten and alone, so what is the point of taking up space on this dying earth any longer.  Widowed.


These are the ones who need the outstretched hand of a Christ follower.  The despairing ones who need the hope only God can give.  The hurting ones who need help. 


We are called to help them. 


Whether that means visting the shut in, bringing an orphan into your home to live, giving to the charity that takes the Gospel and the grain to those worlds away, or driving downtown to meet the sorrow filled ones and ask them what you can do. 


Simply do.  Simlpy care.  Simply act.  Simply love.

Today.