Silent Hero (Advent) - Friday, December 22
Friday, December 22 - Silent Hero
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward him for what he has done."
Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)
For many of us, the Christmas season is a time for us to run around the shopping malls, looking for gifts and decorations for our homes. We may even be too busy during this season of Advent to reach out to our neighbors to see how they are doing.
Cathy and I have been blessed to get to know some special people on the Lower Elwha Reservation whom we now call our friends. One of them could be referred to as a “silent hero.”
Every day, this friend of ours prays for and helps the people on his reservation. He is an elder with the tribe who goes out each day to see whom he can serve. He never receives money or attention; he just wants to help the people. He is an inspiration to Cathy and me.
When we go to visit him now, we love it when he shows us the many pictures of his family and shares their stories. One time, our friend told us the story of his grandmother who was known as a prayer warrior on the reservation. She spent much of her time, each day, praying for her family and many of the people of the reservations.
Toward the end of her time here on earth, she took him aside and asked, “Who is going to take my place when I am gone? Who will be praying for our people?” Every week now, my friend takes a different elder out to breakfast or shopping and visits many of the homebound elders.
Last Christmas, while visiting him at his home, he sang us a song that his grandfather taught him when he was a small child. He told us that he wanted to honor Cathy and me for always being there to help his people.
Indeed, we were honored. But most of all, we’re honored to call this man our friend and know he is proclaiming God's Word to his people.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for always loving us. I thank You for being a forgiving God, and I pray that our nation will never turn away from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.