3 Points to Ponder
- “Treating people like neighbors is love in action. It is the skin and bones of a heart full of love. How have you been treating your neighbors lately?”
- “Building a bridge to invite someone into your life requires close proximity, solid footings on both sides, and intentionality to stay connected. This is how true kinship is created.”
- “Hospitality means people should feel better about themselves and not better about you. When you invite someone into your life, what is your focus?”
2 Quotes to Share
“People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” -Hebrews 8:2
1 Story of Impact
Every day during the week, over 300 Haitian moms leave their homes with a child in their womb, in their arms, or on their hip and walk the dirt road to one of our Love in Action centers. When they walk onto one of our campuses, we have a choice. Are they a number or are they our neighbors? Are we going to invest in a relationship or just give them resources? Our Haitian leadership team states it best, “We treat the moms like our neighbors. This is our house and when they come, we treat them with hospitality. We try to have conversations with them about what’s going on in their lives.” This isn’t a traditional giver and receiver mentality as that creates entitlement. Rather, this is serving from a place of relationship creating kinship. Kinship trumps entitlement every time. How do we go about serving to create kinship? First, we have to be in the same physical space. It can’t be from a distance. It takes the power of presence over an extended period of time. Second, we have to be available to meet people in their most vulnerable places and hold this with compassion. Not to manipulate or beat them with a club, but to truly understand to better help carry the burden they are bearing. Lastly, we see the potential for what is possible for their future and give them permission to champion their own story. We become their biggest cheerleader when we see progress and we speak out in love when we know they can do better. We love them enough to not leave them where they are. As you’ve gone about serving over this past season, have you been investing in relationships or merely providing resources? Do you see people as numbers or neighbors? Take some time to assess where your heart is at in serving others. Are there any adjustments needed?
