November 10 -

“....a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Luke 10:33-35

Helen Keller, profoundly deaf-blind from birth, said:

'I find life an exciting business. The most exciting when lived for others'.

Like the Good Samaritan, nurse Isabella Abbott had compassion for others and had spent twenty-five years dedicating her life to the care of thousands of strangers. Ask her “Why?” and she would have been at a loss to explain. All she knew was that from a small child all she had wanted to do was care for others, at times to the detriment of her own needs – twenty-five years of caring at times took it's toll on her own health, but caring was a need deep within her, as much as her need to breathe.

It was around this time that Isabella came across the following story:

A certain man was traveling on foot and came to a mountain pass. It was late in the autumn and snow had begun to fall as the man was climbing the steep slope. The trail was long and the man was benumbed and freezing. But, after great difficulty he reached the top, and there he found a stranger lying on the ground unconscious and near death from the bitter cold. Forgetting his discomfort the man hurried to the suffering stranger and began to massage his body and limbs vigorously and with all his strength.

Before long the stranger showed signs of life and, after much brisk exercising, was restored to full consciousness. The amazing thing the man discovered was that by working hard to save the stranger's life, he himself had become well and strong. He eagerly lifted up the stranger and together they descended the mountainside to safety.

Which of the two received the greatest blessing – he who gave the help, or he who received it?

"To love Him (God) with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Mark 12:33

Click on the picture for today's music choice - “Why me?” sung by the Gaithers Vocal Band.