Who is on your doorstep?

I doubt that any of us have had a baby dropped on our doorstep!  Occasionally we see that happening in the news or in movies such as Benjamin Button.  Stop and think.  What would you do if this happened to you?  I am guessing you would call the police and have them deal with the situation.  I know I would, as difficult as that might be!Well, God has not placed a baby on my doorstep.    But he has placed people there over the years who were in need of my care, attention, assistance and love.  Currently, I am spending at least one day a week at Winchester Gardens Continuing Care facility in Maplewood where I assist my step-mother who is suffering with Parkinson's disease and is wheelchair bound.  This past Sunday I arranged for an 80th birthday party for her, and I was delighted that her youngest brother made the trip from Colorado for the celebration. He had not seen his sister for over six years.  It was a wonderful reunion and a tearful goodbye, because they doubt they will ever see each other again on this side of heaven.  As I was driving him to the airport to return home, he said, "I can't thank you enough for the way you have cared for Betty!  You  are not really related to her and don't have any responsibility for her care."  I responded, "No, but I love her and God placed her on my doorstep ."How wonderful that God provided me with the energy and the time at this point in my life to undertake this responsibility.  Had it happened several years ago, I would not have had the health or the time.  His timing is perfect.Four years  ago, my older daughter was visiting at Thanksgiving from California.  I was extremely debilitated by an illness I have, and I told her that I wasn't sure that I would see her again. She told me that she wasn't ready to let me go yet.  She needed me!  And, indeed,  God had other plans for me.  I think He knew that I would have to be available for the people He was going to place on my doorstep, including my children and grandchildren.  What a privilege and joy to be able to do so.I also am delighted that I now have time to help my younger daughter by caring for her children when she needs my assistance.  And I am thrilled that I am able to bring them to Sunday school and church each week. I know God placed them on my doorstep so that I could assist in growing their faith.As I look back over my life, I can see so many times when God placed people with a variety of needs on my doorstep.  To be honest, there were times when I wished I could have called in someone else to take over for me.. ...that I could have just closed the door.  It was not always easy.  But He calls us to serve.  And what joy we can find in opening the door and holding out our hand to the person on our doorstep!I have been the person on the doorstep, haven't  you? I thank God that He sent someone to open the door to me and take my hand on those occasions.  Some of those people were members of my own family, but also members of the SHLC family.Is there someone on your doorstep right now?  What does that person need?   -  financial aid, a shoulder to cry on, a mentorship, physical care, emotional support, a ride to the doctor, shopping for groceries, someone to listen, warm gloves? If so, God has placed that person there.    He will give you the time, energy,and resources to serve others and in so doing, serve Him.  What a privilege!1 Peter 4:8-11  "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another with out grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. Tom him be the glory an the power for ever and ever. Amen"