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Chaplain: Caring for Others

By Allen Teal, Chaplain

He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself:” Luke 10:27 (NIV).

Caring matters. In order for others to receive it, caring requires action. An adage attributed to Teddy Roosevelt says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” In Luke chapter 10, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question about what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

When he saw him, he took pity on him: Luke 10:33 (NIV).

Caring starts in the heart. Feelings such as sympathy, pity and empathy may give rise to a sense of caring. When we see the plight of others, our emotions are touched. The urge to help grows from the sense of caring.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds ... brought him to an inn and took care of him: Luke 10:34 (NIV).

Our ability to help may be limited by time, skill and money. Because we cannot meet the entire need, we may be tempted to do nothing. If we recall the idea behind the Golden Rule, we should do for them what we would want them to do for us. Even those employed to take care of others may not always be able to meet every need. This philosophy suggests that we must do what we can.

The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have:” Luke 10:35 (NIV).

Caring looks forward. Meeting an urgent acute need requires immediate intervention. Other needs may call for longer-term solutions. We give to charities with regular monthly or annual support because we care about the needs they continually meet.

In February, when hearts turn toward love and caring, remember those with needs. Let your hands, your presence and your assets prove how much you care.

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