Romans 13:8 (New International Version)
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing
debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
I read a story about an elderly, blind lady living alone
named Stella, one might think she should have spun long tales of hardship and
misery. And I suppose she could have told such stories, but she made little
room in her life for self-pity. She might have mentioned the deaths of friends
and family, including her husband; the glaucoma which finally claimed her
eyesight; the small pension on which she was forced to subsist and the
arthritis which kept her home bound in a little trailer house. And nobody could
blame her had she despaired that she had grown so dependent on others.
She never did lament about all her hardships, either past
or present. Many times she would talk about her good fortune. Speaking of her
son, she often would say: "My Jimmy came to see me today. He's so good to
me!" Of her friends, she often commented: "I've been talking on the
phone all morning. I'm so thankful I have such good friends." Then, with a
slap on her knee and a broad smile on her lips, she would invariably exclaim,
"I'm the richest person in the world!"
And maybe she was! She had love. She found it in her
friends, her family and her faith. She had everything she needed for a happy
and fulfilled life. And what’s more, she knew it.
Stella spoke of her upcoming 90th birthday. "All my
family will be here," she smiled. And with that familiar slap on her knee,
she exclaimed, "You know, I'm the richest person in the world!"
But she barely made that birthday celebration herself.
Several days prior she was laid in a hospital bed and slipped into a coma. Her
family was told she would die shortly.
However, a strange thing happened. On the day of her
birthday, she opened her eyes and greeted the smiling faces of family and
friends surrounding her bed. She sat up and enjoyed birthday cake while someone
read cards. They told her they loved her and they said, "Good-bye." With
family and friends around she smiled and whispered, "I'm the richest
person in the world!"
Stella went to sleep that night and slipped peacefully
away.
As I read the story I wondered if she felt sorry for
those who have everything but happiness.
After all, they could be just as wealthy and happy as
she, if they only realized that the greatest of all riches is love.
Let’s make it our goal to become the richest person in
the world!
Dear Lord we thank You for the gift of love that You have
given to each of us We pray today that we would share that love with family and
friends around us so that we may be the richest person in the world. In Jesus’
name, Amen.
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