Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Honoring Others through Unusual Kindness

House of Light is a dream come true for my friends and me.  We felt a tug on our hearts almost two years ago and decided it was time to move.  You can read more about House of Light here, but in short, we partner with homeless shelters who are helping families reenter society.  House of Light collects donated furniture and household items to help these families who are starting over, often with nothing.

Who are we helping?  We don't really know too much about our families.  Often times we know it is a single mama and her children.  And that's about all we know.  And that's all we need to know.

Right before Acts 28, Paul and some sailors, soldiers, and criminals were caught in a terrible storm that caused their ship to wreck.  Reread that...sailors, soldiers, and criminals.

Before the islanders knew who was washing ashore on their island, they "showed unusual kindness."  They went beyond regular kindness and showed "unusual kindness"...to prisoners!  They didn't interrogate the men as they emerged from the wreckage.  Nope.  The islanders were quick to offer kindness by starting a fire because it was cold and rainy.

Luke goes on to write that these islanders "honored us in many ways."  They offered up a comfortable home for this ragtag bunch to stay in for three days!  In fact, they stayed with the top official of the island in his estate!  The group ended up having to stay for three months, but probably some sort of more permanent housing was found for them.

And when it was finally time to set sail, the islanders "furnished us with the supplies we needed."  The residents on the island of Malta showed kindness, honored others, and furnished the group with the things they needed.  They loved others well.

House of Light does not exist to judge a family based on their past.  We exist to honor families with "unusual kindness."  This is why we give away clean sheets and good sofas.  We want to honor our families and love them well. 

Jesus also tells us that when we show "unusual kindness" to "the least of these," we are loving Him.  What may seem like a "little kindness" is huge because it is done to Jesus.

"We are called to unusual kindness and love.  Sometimes hospitality goes beyond invitation.  Sometimes it is simply a love that meets and exceeds real needs with peculiar and abnormal kindness."
Logan Wolfram

To read more about Unusual Kindness, hop over to She Reads Truth!

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