How Can I Help You?

The particular need to have concern for one’s neighbors regardless of family connection or religion came from Jesus’ example. Actually it wasn’t part of his teaching, it was central to what is unique in Christ’s message and the whole story that his life represented, that GOD became flesh and dwelt among us. In Christ’s message all materiality and everyone - saint and sinner is God appearing. Unless we honor strangers as well as our own families, that message has no meaning to us, and we cannot call ourselves followers of Christ.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Jews saw a Samaritan, their enemy, take time, money and effort to help a disabled Jew. That represents another principle that is unique to Christianity, forgiveness. We are all off springs of one God and until we help each other, pray for each other, and forgive each other, family or foe, we deny charity and deny that we are all a part of GOD.
Sometimes it is easier to forgive a stranger than to forgive our closest love one. We alienate ourselves from family because of some perceived slight or words spoken and interpreted in the wrong context. These hurts build and build until they reach insurmountable heights. If we have a problem with forgiving others, we can begin to solve the problem in a way that has nothing to do with forgiveness…appreciation. The best way to forgive is to start appreciating, appreciating the good in others. Everyone has some virtue, because we are all made in the image of GOD.
Perhaps throughout his whole life, Jesus’ message was “Appreciate yourself, add to yourself by seeing the good in your brother. Then you will see it in yourself. Then will you include everyone in your love.”