Listening to a Bite-Sized Church episode recently, this question was mentioned and reminded me of an incident from many years ago.
Working as a part-time administrator in a Residential Home, I was privileged to assist residents in various ways. One lady, whose husband worked for the same Bank as I did, enabled us to have a common point of discussion. She told me of the day she first entered the Home, and as she left the dining room after a meal, said to another resident. “And how are you?” She continued, “And I couldn’t get away for twenty minutes” I was only being polite, and didn’t expect her life history.”
The speaker, during the Bite-Seized Church contribution, spoke of a relative of whom it was said, “He not only asked, but seemed genuinely interested” – my paraphrase. By contrast, at one church I attended, I was told, “Don’t ask G how he is because he will spend the next half-hour telling you.”
I was quite challenged by that simple question and what is my usual response. If we have a genuine concern for other people, the response might delay our next action by half an hour or more, so who knows what a blessing that might be to the person responding to our question.
Researching a phrase from John 13 verse 34, I was interested to read the accompanying comment. “Love one another as I have loved you” is a New Commandment given by Jesus to his disciples in the Gospel of John. It is a central tenet of Christianity, emphasising selfless, sacrificial love that serves as the defining characteristic of Jesus’s followers. This commandment goes beyond a simple emotional feeling, calling for a commitment to act in the best interests of others, mirroring Christ’s own love.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may our love for others be a reflection of Your love for us and enable us to make and spend time with those who need it. AMEN