16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.
Reflection
We often visualize and articulate God as a parent, and in today’s text – we may even hear the gentle reminders of a mother to her toddler to share. Similarly, we can see ourselves as the child who acts on that guidance and see our parent beam with pride.
Doing good and sharing – as the text from the book of Hebrews asks us to do – are easy in concept, yet difficult in execution. We struggle with it from the time we’re born. Why is that? What is it in us that deciphers good from bad, but then justifies not doing the best thing? What is it in us that can hear our parents’ reminders to share, yet justify keeping to ourselves? We know, or at least we try to know in our bones, that our doing good and sharing doesn’t make a difference as to whether God loves us. The parent still loves the child that they drop off at pre-school and have to warn the teacher, “You should know, they’re not the best at sharing.” The parent still loves the child who they give advice to on how to make the best choice, and the child then chooses differently.
But talk to any parent and it’ll probably be easy to see the joy that comes from their child learning, growing, sharing, and making good decisions. We’re learning and growing on each of our faith journeys but can approach our doing good and sharing as a moment where God beams with pride over us.
by Rachel Callender
For Pondering & Prayer
A week from today is Ash Wednesday when we begin our lent season. As this time quickly approaches, what is one thing you can add to your spiritual growth and wellness that promotes a sense of doing good and sharing?
Prayer: Holy Lord, nurture us as a parent would nurture a child into sharing with our neighbors. Amen.
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