Judge Me By My Footprints

JUDGE ME BY THE FOOTPRINTS I LEAVE BEHIND A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've got a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us." "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own." At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are. Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!! There's a miracle called -Friendship- that dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift It always brings and you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift! Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Hi Annette. Isn't this a thought-provoking story? It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. I'm sure some of it is because I have a brother-in-law who lost both legs and an arm in Vietnam. He not only came home to his parents, but he also met and married a women who game him 3 children. After she passed away from breast cancer, he met and married my sister. I am thankful she was able to see beyond the outer man to the inner man my B-in-law is. I pray that we all can look beyond the physical into the soul of our dear brothers and sisters. God bless you for your ministry here on this board, Annette. Love, Peg

I can relate to this story. Being obese all my life, you are treated differently. Yes, this is a thought-provoking story. I too. I have not lost any limbs but, have been mistreated, ignored and discriminated against because of my outward appearance. We need to be more like Jesus and look at a persons heart and stop judging people because they are different! We are all unique and have a purpose in life. Thanks for your prayers. They are needed!! This ministry can be painful and discouraging at times and I need to be reminded that it's not about me!! I just want everyone to know about thejoy and peace you can receive if you follow Christ. Be blessed! Annette

Amen, dear sister. We all have been discriminated against in one way or another. I hope that makes us more giving and less judgmental with others. I will continue praying for you. God bless and keep you. Love, Peg

Annette, You post the most powerful messages. Thank you for softening my heart and opening my eyes each day. Love, Dawn

the Lord! I can take no credit. He lays things on my heart and I try to be obedient. Like I posted earlier, sometimes it's painful and discouraging but I must still press on. You just reminded me of a Scriputure, Isiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." I needed to be reminded of this Scripture. Let me explain, I try to post and or e-mail His word or message of hope daily but it is not always received like I hoped it would be. I have to pray that He crucify my flesh so that I don't "think" and "feel" that the message is not getting across because I don't get a response. After all, it's not about me!!! It gets so hard because I am so excited and I want everybody else to be just as excited as I am. But it doesn't work that way.(excuse me, I had to preach to myself! ) He is still pruning me, the Lord!! I ask that you continue to keep me lifted in prayer as I try to let Him lead, guide, direct and order my steps and the He will continue to crucify my flesh daily!! Be blessed and thank you for being my Angel for today! peace and God bless! Annette

My husband quotes that scripture each times he preaches in his opening prayer. "I ask you to hide me behind the cross, let my spirit decrease so that Your spirit may increase, let word word cut as a two edged sword, peircing our hearts, I ask that it not come back to You void, but it would accomplish what You have set it out to do..." I have found a greater blessing in posting God's truth. Not necessarly only what I think will encourage others; but what they NEED to hear. Yes, God has wonderful gifts and blessings for us, but we have obligations to fill as well. I think that people who preach prosperity only tell half the story. Conviction hurts; but it is a pain that I don't mind having. It brings me closer to God. It helps me see how unworthy I am of everything He has blessed me with. Without convicting messages, how can you truly appreciate calvery? If no one was told of the error in their ways, they would think they didn't need Jesus. Why would they need a Savior if they THOUGHT they did no wrong? Love, Dawn

AMEN! Well said! Blessings! Annette