A Living Faith

I knew my friend was going through a hard time. She was out of work and had three children to feed. I imagined a gift of a few groceries might help to ease her burden. So I headed to the supermarket and picked up a few essentials for her and her family. When I delivered the groceries, her look of surprise was quickly replaced by one of sheer gratitude. As she placed the items in her near-empty cabinets, she said, “You know, I’ll take these over thoughts and prayers any day.” That moment was a wonderful lesson for me.

How many times, after learning of someone’s hardship, do I promise to keep them in my thoughts or include them in my prayers? I know the right things to say, but do I act on them? We must pray for those in need, of course, but people also need tangible help. A bag of groceries, a ride to a doctor’s appointment, an afternoon of babysitting so that a weary parent can rest — these are simple ways we can meet an immediate need.

Today’s quoted scripture reminds us that “faith without works is dead.” When we put our faith into action, our faith is alive. In what ways can we show our living faith to those in need? Even a small act of kindness can make a big difference.