  Spiritual
This week: Giving Is Its Own Reward Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your guest editor this week. |
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"You can't judge people and touch their souls at the same time."
~ Tama Kieves, Inspired and Unstoppable: Wildly Succeeding in your life's work
Look around. Everywhere you turn there's a Marine standing near a Toys for Tots donation box, a Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell, or a homeless person asking for money. It seems people are more apt to donate during the holiday season, but it's always been my contention that people of faith aren't doing enough to help their fellow man.
When I was a young girl, maybe eleven or twelve, I remember standing in a Southern Baptist Church in Kenai, Alaska and belting out a hymn with the other parishioners during Sunday worship. It was the day of our annual Christmas potluck; each family brought a dish of food and immediately after the service everyone would eat to their heart's content. Suddenly the sanctuary door opened. In walked a young man in his twenties with long scruffy hair, blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder. Our singing stopped as the man approached the pastor and offered to sing us a few songs. All he asked for in return was a full belly. The pastor and the man went into another room to speak in private, but the pastor returned alone, our singing continued, and I never saw the man again. I was later told that it was because of the man's appearance, especially his long hair and beard, that he was turned away.
This scenario didn't sit well with me even then, and the pastor's shameful behavior is seared on my conscience to this day.
I've heard people say they're not going to give a homeless man money because he'll just go out and buy alcohol with it; I say maybe a drink is what he needs to get through another day. I cannot presume to know what hardships he's endured or the losses he's experienced. My job is not to judge him or question his motives or ridicule his plight, but to reach out in love and compassion. What he does with the money after it leaves my hands isn't my concern. I've done what I'm supposed to do.
Of course I'm far from rich and can't afford to give money to every person who crosses my path, but I do let my conscience be my guide. If something about someone in particular speaks to me and tells me to stop, I stop. If I feel guided to offer money or food, I do.
But giving back shouldn't be reserved for the last thirty days of every calendar year. And times are tight; there are other ways to give back that don't involve lots of (if any) money: donate old quilts/afghans/coats to a homeless shelter; volunteer at a nursing home; knit beanies for children with cancer; sing Christmas carols to patients stuck in the hospital over the holidays; hang Christmas lights for your widowed elderly neighbor--or shovel her driveway in the winter, mow her grass in the summer; dish up an extra plateful of supper and deliver it to the hermit down the block; that poverty-stricken single mom down the street ... volunteer to watch her kids for the night so she can go out to a movie with friends. Hold the elevator for someone. Smile and say good morning to a stranger. Let the woman standing behind you in line go first with her two items because your cartful will take a long time ... and pay attention to your intuition. If your gut tells you to stop, stop. I believe people come into our lives for a reason. It's up to us to pay attention and find out what that reason is. And maybe we'll never know. Maybe we're not meant to know, but maybe, just maybe, your one small act of kindness will touch someone's soul when they need it the most.
Thank you for reading.
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" ~ Matthew 25:44-45, Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections, and please do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
|  | Kip (13+)
A young thief gets in trouble while stealing to provide for a starving family
#1848101 by Wings  |
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A true story, helping a friend, caused me to lose the friendship.
#1720356 by Bonnie |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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The following is in response to "Spiritual Newsletter (November 20, 2012)" :
Lee says, "This is the day after my 75th Thanksgiving Day. However, I give thanks every day for all of the gifts God has supplied to me: a wonderful husband, beautiful grandchildren, a great granddaughter who will be a blessing to her parents and anyone who knows her. I'm thankful for my own mother, who is now 104. She realized my talent and passion for music and sacrificed to give me piano lessons, at twenty-five cents per lesson, 71 years ago. I heard the sonorous sounds of the pipe organ as I entered the sanctuary for the first time. I told Mother I would play that organ someday. I waited sixty-five years, but The Lord saw fit to place me in that position. My husband is a pipe organ builder. He made the organ playable, after years of neglect. Music has been my passion from my earliest memories. I remember my mother singing to me as a baby and mimicking her, note for note. My cup runneth over with thanksgiving." What a beautiful story, Lee! Thank you for sharing it with us, and thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 
Steve adding writing to ntbk. says, "Shannon, a fabulous newsletter from stem to stern. Thanks for sharing the talented moderators. Let all know that you featured them here, save for one I forgot to do. The piece I submit is a 'dark write'. I rarely write in the dark any more and yet this one has a spark of light at the end of the tunnel. Write on, and share your skill here and beyond. Copenator out!" Aw, thank you, Steve! And thank you for submitting an item (below) to the NL. It's always my pleasure to share your writing with the readers. 
Sheep  says, "Hey: Your piece A Time for Thanksgiving was great!" Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. 
monty31802 says, "You are a peach, Shannon, and you did a great job on this newsletter." Thank you so much, Monty! That means a great deal coming from you. I am honored. 
Meg says, "Thank you so much for featuring my Thanksgiving poem in this week's Newsletter. Thank you also for your wonderfully encouraging Newsletters. Cheers. Meg." You're welcome, Meg. Thank YOU! 
Chrisola says, "I read and digested what Shannon wrote, and I became more indebted to the Lord. What an emotional piece! Things that most people take for granted are what we need to be thankful for. Bless you, Shannon. You know what? Your essay has inspired me to make a book. Thanks to Writing.Com." Wow, how cool is that! Best of luck with your endeavor. Peace and blessings to you as well. Write on! 
bonzo1964 says, "I love the piece about Thanksgiving! How grateful we all should be for the gift of life! It is too grand not to see it, much less ignore our blessings. Beautiful. I can relate!" Thank you for your kind words, Bonnie.  Namaste.
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Spiritual: November 27, 2012 Issue [#5381]
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