[Faith-talk] 9/24/16 Quotes, and Something That Has Been Laying On My Heart for a Long time

[Paul Smith]

Hello and greetings to you all on a Saturday, the day before we all 
enter into our day and time of corporate worship.  Of course for you 
who are Sabitarians today is your day.  Anyway I hope that your day is 
going well, whether it's about to begin, in its middle or at its end, 
by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

Here are today's two quotes for your consideration, pondering and reflection.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.  Plato

God doesn't call the qualified.  He qualifies the called.

And there you have today's quotes, but stay tuned to something which 
admittedly is somewhat difficult for me to say.

This morning I replied to an email from a particular person, and what 
she said prompted me to recall something positive that my late mom said 
to my two brothers when she was much younger.  This caused memories to 
flood my mind which, in turn, caused tears to flow recalling what she 
said.  Now I don't want to come across as a crybaby, but the fact is 
that I still miss her terribly after more than six years, especially 
when my small church family won't even consent, even one family, couple 
or individual, to do something with me on at least a monthly basis.  
Lunch is just one thing they could do.  But the excuses they make are 
that we as a family have other obligations.  This cuts to my heart, and 
when I get home from church I have a good cry over their lack of helping.

It is no exaggeration or flattery to say that, if it weren't for those 
of you who post devotions or even engage me in live conversations in 
audio chatrooms, that I would be spiritually dead.  Thanks for you all 
who post such things or talk in audio internet chatrooms.  There is 
much more that I could say on this subject, but if any of you who know 
my phone number would like to help in this matter, I'd appreciate a 
phone call.  If I'm not at home, just leave me your number and the best 
time to call.  Thanks for continuing to be my constant _gesamideanoj, 
as we say in Esperanto.  That is a word that is so intimate that it 
isn't translatable into English, but the literal definition is someone 
who is a member of the same idea.

Thanks for reading, understanding and acting in this situation, and 
again I hope I don't come across as a crybaby.  Just one little act of 
kindness on their part would speak volumes to me.  Your Christian 
friend and brother, Paul