Pure Religion

25 Mar 2010 2 Comments

by findingthetwo in God, Relationships, Christianity

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27

She was wearing shoes that matched each other. They were on the correct feet. That was a sign to me that she was having a “good day” and her mind was a little more alert than on “bad days”.  She was wearing that same, tired, brown coat that she always likes to wear and said, “Girl, why are you wearing that skirt when it is so cold out?”  It was 70 degrees.  I had come to work an hour early in order to get a few things done before having to open up the office and there she stood, waiting for me.  I have to admit my first thought wasn’t, “What a nice surprise!  I have a visitor!”  It was more like, “Really? I come to work early specifically for the purpose of getting things done without interruption and I have to deal with her?”  Looking back, it’s not my proudest moment, but it’s what I thought at the time. 

When I said, “What can I do for you, sweetie?”  She said, “Well, I remembered that I’m supposed to take my pills this morning and you’re supposed to give them to me.”  She comes to our office every day so we can make sure she takes her vitamins (I work in a 55+ retirement community).  So, I went to the cabinet, got her vitamins, walked into the kitchen to get her a glass of water and grumbled inside myself the entire time.  After all, I was a little stressed, I had a whole list of things I wanted to accomplish today and this was just an extra thing that I did not want to deal with at the moment.  And then, that still small voice said, “THIS is pure religion.” 

I can worship God publicly all I want, I can attend church services faithfully, I can offer Him my talents at those services, but if I’m not willing to show compassion to others Monday through Saturday it all means NOTHING.  Guess I’ve still got a lot of work to do.

— Kristy

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