our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Sep 14, 2017, 10:28:25 PM9/14/17

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Paying Attention

Blessed is he who considers the poor. Psalm 41:1 nkjv

John Newton wrote, “If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if, by giving it another, I can wipe away its tears, I feel I have done something. I should be glad to do greater things; but I will not neglect this.”

These days, it’s not hard to find someone in need of comfort: A care-worn cashier in a grocery store working a second job to make ends meet; a refugee longing for home; a single mother whose flood of worries has washed away her hope; a lonely old man who fears he has outlived his usefulness.

Father, as we go through our day, show us the people who need our attention.

But what are we to do? “Blessed is he who considers the poor,” wrote David (Ps. 41:1 nkjv). Even if we can’t alleviate the poverty of those we meet along the way we can consider them—a verb that means “to pay attention.”

We can let people know we care. We can treat them with courtesy and respect, though they may be testy or tiresome. We can listen with interest to their stories. And we can pray for them or with them—the most helpful and healing act of all.

Remember the old paradox Jesus gave us when He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Paying attention pays off, for we're happiest when we give ourselves away. Consider the poor.

Father, as we go through our day, show us the everyday folks who need our attention. Grant us the love and the patience to truly consider them, as You have so patiently loved us.

Only a life given away for love’s sake is worth living. Frederick Buechner

付出关怀

眷顾贫穷的有福了！-诗篇41篇1节

约翰·牛顿（John Newton）曾写道：“如果我在回家的路上，遇到一个小孩，把一分钱弄丢了，我会给他一分钱，使他不再哭泣。或许，我乐意做更伟大的事，但我不会因善小而不为。”

在现今的社会里，需要安慰的人也随处可见：身兼两职的超市收银员，为维持家计而劳累过度；难民渴望有个安身之处；单亲妈妈满心忧虑，失去盼望；孤寂的老人忧心自己一无是处。

我们应如何尽一份心力呢？大卫写道：“眷顾贫穷的有福了！”（诗篇41篇1节）。或许我们的付出无法减轻他们的经济负担，仍然应当随时“眷顾”身边的人，而“眷顾”其实就是关怀他们。

我们可以让这些需要帮助的人知道，有人关心着他们。虽然他们可能会让我们感到厌烦，但我们仍该尊重他们。我们可以倾听他们的心声，为他们代求或一起祷告，因祷告是得医治、得帮助的最佳途径。

耶稣教导我们：“施比受更为有福”（使徒行传20章35节），这句看似矛盾的话，其实深具哲理。当我们愿舍己眷顾穷人的时候，便得到最大的喜乐并成为蒙福的人！

天父，求祢让我们在日常生活中，
看见有谁需要我们的关心。求祢赐给我们爱心与耐心，
能对他们的处境感同身受，如同祢爱我们一样。