Chaplain's Corner
Rev. Jim Moore
God ’ s Carer
Dear Caring Friends,
Do you ever pause to think ` where do I as a carer fit into God`s scheme of things? ` The Apostle Paul gives us the answer when he says `For me to live is Christ…` (Philip. 1:21)
This story of Joey, a homeless victim of `Alcohol abuse` ….makes the point.
One day `Joey` staggered into a Mission Hall, was made very welcome, and became something of a `regular`. Eventually he came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Subsequently he spent his days and nights hanging out at the mission and undertook to do any of the jobs needing done. There was never a task too menial, whether it was cleaning the vomit left by a violently sick alcoholic or scrubbing the toilets after careless men had left the bathroom in a mess. He also helped feed feeble men who wandered in and even helped to undress and tuck into bed men who were too far gone to care for themselves.
One evening at the epilogue the Mission Director was preaching 'Christ'. The men sat listening sullenly, with shoulders sagging & heads drooped, when suddenly one man got up, staggered down the aisle, knelt at the altar and cried out `for God to come into his life and change it`.
This repentant drunk repeatedly cried …“O God…make me like Joey…make me like Joey!…make me like Joey!”
The director in a gentle way leaned over and whispered to this `broken man` …”Son I think it would be better if you prayed `make me like Jesus`.”
The kneeling man looked up at the Director and with tears running down his cheeks and a puzzled look on his face asked “ Why? Is he like Joey?”
The point my caring friend is this. If you seek to share and witness for `Christ` it is best to do so through the life you lead before others. As a carer Jesus can give us all that we need like patience, humility, grace, a loving and gentle spirit. Surely that will speak louder than any words to those around us.