challenging

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25:35~36)

the above verse has been in my mind these few days. let me share you why:

4 days ago, an elderly taiwanese lady came to our door while we were eating dinner. her friend, who she always stays at, was currently not available so we let her stay at our house for the night because she JUST flew in from taiwan and had no place to stay. we know her as the cleaning lady because that's what she does for living and has cleaned our house before. who could ever turn away an acquaintance in the rain? anyway, when she came into our house, we all noticed that she smells... can't really describe the stench. it was like a big mix of bengay, moth ball, sour dough, and stinky sports towel. it was just gross. even my daughter pinched her nose and held her breath and lost her appitite. kids are so candid. (is that the right word?) on top of the stench, this lady talks... LOUD! feels like someone had turned her volume up to the highest level possible. worse yet, she talks like there's no tomorrow and keeps on talking even though there's no one in the room. (psycho?) i think the only time that she doesn't talk is when she is sleeping.

i think it was good to be a samaritan to her and let her stay at our house but it's been already 4 days and we have no idea how long she is going to stay at our house. our house stinks and every room needs to be aired out every time she walks around the house. my husband started to avoid coming home while she's around because of the smell. she's already have broken our sink faucet and our toilet has flooded when she tried to clean them. my kids have been asking how much longer will she be staying with us. what can i say? did she overstay our welcome? what if she's Jesus? (testing our hearts)

yesterday while coming home from New Hope, i had asked my kids what they thought about the sermon. then my son said, "it was exactly what you needed to hear." yeah, it sure was. God definitely knows what i needed to hear. the message's first point's passage was: "do not let any unwhlesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

i confess that things i have been saying has not been wholesome. i have been bad mouthing how much she smells and how loud she talks. my actions have separated me from seeing God's blessings.

we did feed her, gave her drinks, invited her in, gave her clothes, provided things that she needs... but i still have a long way to go in terms of my heart.