next time ..

the next time ..                                  

                              remember

next time you sit to eat a hot meal
                                             remember
there are people who scarcely get hot meals
   or any meal

the next time you hug your spouse or your kids or your parents
                 remember
some people will not get to do that
   they're not welcome

the next time you take a hot shower
   or any shower
                             remember
there are people who hardly get one

next time you change your clothes
            remember
some people have only what they're wearing
   and what they're wearing hasn't been washed in a while
   and looks it

next time you crawl into your bed and slide under the blankets
                                  remember
there are people who don't have a bed
   or blankets

next time you get angry at your spouse
                                                                              remember
there are people who have noone to be angry at
   or to get angry at them

next time you close your eyes and drift into sleep
                remember
some people don't get to sleep much
   they're scared

next time you decide to sleep in late
      remember
there are people who have to rise with the sun
   every day

next time you climb into your car
                      remember
some people have none
   they walk, ride, or take a bus

next time you get a letter or a card or an email
                                                                          remember
some people will never get one

next time you get your hair done
                                               remember
there are people who can't afford a haircut
   or the dentist

next time you go to the grocery store
                        remember
some people can't

next time you go to a funeral
            remember
there are people who will have none
   no one knows they died
   or noone cares
   or both

next time you deposit or withdraw money
                                remember
some people have no bank account

next time you go to a restaurant
                                                                     remember
there are people who can't
   they can't pay
   or they don't feel presentable
      or smell presentable

next time you get your meds
        remember
some people can't afford them

next time you buy something for your child
                        remember
some parents can't

next time you run into your house because it's raining
   or snowing
                    remember
some people have no home
   no shelter either

next time you have an intelligent conversation with a friend
                                                                            remember
there are people who can't
   they are mentally challenged
   or they have no friends
   or both

next time you light that fire or turn the heater on
                                 remember
there are people who can't do that - they have no home, no fire, no heater

the next time                                  

the very next time ..                         remember

thank God for what you have

and then
pray for the homeless

ask God to be particularly gracious to them
they need it badly
all the grace they can get
from God
and from
me
and from
you

then go
find them
and lighten their burden
even if it's just a little bit
or for a little while

God needs you to do this

remember Jesus said
"  inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these
you did it to me ..
to
me  "

so go
do

in Jesus' name


shalom