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by Sharron Hudson, Lt. Colonel –
This is my favorite time of year. I really look forward to the first day of the fall season! I love everything about it—the sights of falling leaves and their beautiful colors; the smells of apple cider, pumpkin pie and sugar cookies; sounds of the exciting football games and Christmas carols with the anticipation of the coming holidays! Not leaving out any of the senses—I also love to feel the chill in the air! Okay—I hear my friends in Alaska laughing, “She doesn’t know what chill is!” And, yes, I confess that I’m a wimp when it comes to cold weather. Give me a break; I’ve lived in warm climates for most of my (insert age here) years!
But if I were to use one word to describe what fall means to me it is, well, “Comfortable.” You know—sitting around the fireplace in a “Snuggie,” with hot chocolate—comfortable. If we are really honest with ourselves, we live pretty comfortably all year-round.
The territorial theme for this year’s Community Care Ministries is “Comfort, O comfort my people,” taken from Isaiah 40:1. The verse ends with, says your God, intimating that this is part of God’s will for our lives—to comfort his people.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, helps us to understand that because Christ comforts us in our troubles we can give comfort to others. How many of us have come into a time of distress—personal troubles, health concerns, worries over our children—and then those who have gone through the same problems give us a call or write a note to say: “I’ve been there, be assured of my support and prayers.” It gives us a sense that we are not alone. We are comforted by those who have been comforted by the Lord.
As we come into the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, we will have the opportunity to help those who need God’s comfort—a lonely person in the nursing home, a single mom trying her best to take care of her children, hoping for someone to help with gifts, a man in prison feeling forgotten because others have given up on him. We also have the opportunity to share with those who worship with us every Sunday but still feel alone.
We need to remember our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Do you know those living in another country who face many challenges, including not knowing where the next meal will come from, or fearing everyday for the safety of themselves and their family? You may not understand what they are going through, but God does, for, The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry (Psalm 34:17).
Finally, don’t forget the men and women serving in the United States Armed Services. Be there to comfort those families that have lost a loved one, or to support a spouse waiting for their husband or wife to come home.
As we serve God with our hearts and humankind with our hands be assured of the Lord’s guidance through the promised Comforter himself.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).
