Homeless and Hungry

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:29-31; 25:31-40

The cold winter wind bit at Gwen’s nose and ears as she and her mother were shopping downtown. “Can we stop at the pet store and get some birdseed?” asked Gwen. Mom agreed, and they headed for the store.

As they crossed an alley, they saw a man sleeping there, huddled against a wall. He was shivering in a shabby coat, his hands bare and his toes poking out from his shoes. Gwen grabbed her mother by the hand and quickly pulled her past the alley. “What’s wrong?” asked Mom.

“That man made me nervous,” said Gwen. She frowned and glanced back over her shoulder. “Why is he dressed like that? And why is he sleeping on the street on such a cold day?”

“He must be homeless,” said Mom.

“We talked about homeless people at school,” Gwen said as they went into the pet store, “but I didn’t think there were any in small towns like ours.”

After buying a bag of birdseed, Gwen and her mother started back to the car. As they passed the alley, they saw that the man was gone. Mom looked sad. “I hope he’s okay.”

When they got home, Gwen filled the family’s backyard feeder with birdseed. Then she went inside and rubbed the cold from her tingling fingers. She joined her mother at the window, and they watched birds swoop down to the feeder. “I’m glad we can put out seeds for them,” Gwen said. “It’s so cold, and it’s hard for them to find food. They might die without us.” Gwen smiled as she watched the birds flutter around the feeder and peck at the seeds. “You know what? Some verses I read in my Bible this morning said God knows about every sparrow that falls. He cares about birds too.”

“Yes,” said Mom, “and He cares about people much more than birds. The Bible says one person is more valuable than many sparrows.”

Gwen stared out at the snowy backyard, thinking of the man they’d seen. “We found a way to help the birds through the cold winter,” she said. “Maybe we could find a way to help homeless people too.”

“I’m sure we can,” Mom said. “Let’s come up with some ideas.” – Daryl B. Knauer

How About You?

Have you ever wanted to help the homeless? In today’s Key Verse, Jesus tells Christians that doing something for someone in need is the same as doing it for Him. Think about what you could do. Perhaps you could donate food, money, or even your time to a church or other organization that helps homeless people. Ask God to help you show His love to people in need.

Today’s Key Verse:
Matthew 25:40 (NIV) Truly I [Jesus] tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Today’s Key Thought:

Help the homeless