Have you ever picked up a stray animal? One that was soft, cute and looking for love? My husband and I found a sweet dog last night. It started off that we saw her roaming as we drove through our neighborhood. Then my husband got out of the car and whistled for her. But in a brief moment of panic, jumped back in the car fearing she could have rabies. After seeing that she didn’t have crazy eyes, my husband began coaxing her back toward our house.
She’s currently in our backyard as we search for her family. She’s adorable, loving and big. As of this moment we haven’t named her, but I think it is a tie between Olaf and Bear.
It got me thinking. We treat stray, four-legged animals with love and care, but how do we treat ‘stray’ people? Let me define stray. I’m talking about those who wonder into our lives looking for love and care. We can meet them at school, at work or even at church.
My family has taken in a few strays over the years. Friends my brothers or I drug home and my parents ended up adopted. Not only did they come to our home, but we drug them to church. A church that was inviting and that loved and cared for them. And at church, several of them found Jesus; they made the decision to believe and changed their eternity.
I heard a quote the other night, paraphrased it said, “People lead other people to Jesus.” If you are a person (that should be all of you), and if you have people in your life (you should have at least one), then you have a mission.
Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.“