Cold Care
/
North Texas is falling on hard times. With record temperatures below zero, our infrastructure simply can’t handle the load. Our social feeds are inundated with pictures of outdoor campfire coffee pots, people standing in the middle of frozen pools, candles and clay pot heaters, and bundled up families hunkered down in their living rooms.
To answer the call, the Church is seizing the opportunity to shine. The Robbins Family, members of CATC, spent their day yesterday, not cozying up by the fire, but braving the icy roads to deliver water and food to other members of their Life Group. One of our families who are out of town heard what was happening back at home in Grapevine. They offered their empty home with power to a family in their Life Group who was without. A neighbor knocked on the door. He explained that he was without power with his uncle who is handicapped. He saw that there was firewood on their driveway and asked if he could borrow some. The family staying in the home not only gave him the wood but helped cut it and take it back to his home.
When CJ and Sarah and Allie lost power and were experiencing freezing temperatures in their homes, they reached out to their Life Group. The group is constantly checking up on one another through group messaging. Fellow Life Group members, Duane and Gayle, immediately invited them into their home after hearing their situation. Later, two more friends joined them to get warm, take showers, and charge their devices.
“It really wasn’t a decision we had to weigh. There was a need and we were able to meet it, so we offered,” said Gayle and Duane when asked what compelled them to open their homes. “It is our responsibility to care for our community and we are thrilled that God has blessed us with a home where we are easily able to do this. It’s certainly no five-star hotel, but it’s warm and filled with love and care for each other.”
“…we are called to be the most compassionate, the tenderest of carers, and the frontline workers to bring people into the hope of the cross…”
It is moments of suffering like these that we can, in small ways, reflect the love that Jesus offers to us. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be the most compassionate, the tenderest of carers, and the frontline workers to bring people into the hope of the cross, even if it means foregoing our comfort (Philippians 2:1-11).
Gayle and Duane have a deep understanding of the loving care Christians are called to. “This is how we can show God’s love in a tangible way and help each other. It’s always rewarding to help others with their needs. Sometimes it’s something as small as a phone call or text, sometimes it’s sharing a meal or groceries, other times it’s going to pick up someone without power who doesn’t want to drive in the weather conditions and bring them to your house for a while, but it’s always showing the love of God and using what you’re given to help others. As Christians, it’s what we’re called to do, and it’s only uncomfortable if we don’t do it!”
In Matthew 22, Jesus teaches the way we fulfill the heart of God's law is through love to God and love to others. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). Whether that is turning down the thermostat or foregoing a shower to conserve resources, helping chop firewood and sharing it, or letting a family come stay with you to save them from burst pipes and a freezing home - let’s be the first responders of care for our neighbors, shining with the love of Christ.
“Right now, Duane and I are sitting in our office working, but outside our door, we hear the happy conversations between our friends, some of whom already knew each other, and some who just met! That’s rewarding!”