Acts of compassion make a difference

Martha helping a women pick out clothes in the Love In Action clothing room.

We see people hurting for different reasons daily. Our goal is to show them Jesus and His great love. A Florida hurricane victim experienced His love Thursday night at Love In Action

During the Samaritan Clinic, a woman hobbled through the doors on a crutch with a 5-year old boy in tow. It turns out she suffered a leg injury when her house in Lynn Haven, Fla., collapsed during Hurricane Michael. She lost everything. She came looking for help. After a day of being turned away from one agency after another, she was beyond exhausted. Saying she was feeling down would be an understatement.

Filled with compassion and the love of Jesus, Team LIA went into action. Dan sat down and talked with her. He told her not to worry, God was in control and will take care of her. He told Martha and me her situation. All she had left from her personal belongings were there clothes she was wearing and one or two more clothing outfits.

After Debi and Lisa prayed with her and gave her a good meal, Dan, Martha and I took her to suite 6 so she could pick out some clothes for herself and her child. We helped her with hygiene items and food. I asked her if she had a Bible. She said the storm took that, too. As she started to explain what kind of Bible she had and how much she enjoyed it, I showed her three different Bibles. Her eyes lit up when she saw a study Bible. She said, "Can I have that one?" While it wasn't the same Bible she lost, it was close, and she was so excited and thankful.

We saw Psalm 30:5 happen last night. "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." This sweet woman limped in dejected and in tears. She left smiling and thanking Jesus with tears of joy streaming down her face. She left with hope, a hope that what Dan said was really true, "God is in control," and He will take care of her."

We are blessed to do this throughout each week for our homeless and needy friends living in Dothan, so why am I writing about this particular act of compassion. It's to bring glory to Jesus and to encourage you with another great example of what can happen when you let the love of Jesus flow through you. Our region needs more and more of these types of acts of compassion. I pray this column encourages more people to be instruments of God's love, mercy and grace to our hurting neighbors.

Tens of thousands of people are hurting throughout the tri-state region because of the devastation Hurricane Michael left behind. I see so many people helping one another, and I want to encourage you to continue. Your love and help really makes a difference. No, we can't give a person the money to rebuild their house and fill it with food, clothing, and furniture. But, we can give them hope they are not alone and forgotten.

As the rest of the country moves on, unaffected by the storm, our neighbors will continue in their struggle to recover. Let's continue helping them to persevere through acts of compassion. In the weeks and months to come, take time to pray with the hurting, help them where you can, join in the many efforts to help provide for their physical needs. Most of all, let the love of Jesus shine through you. Your acts of compassion will make more of a difference than you know.