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The Spiritual Blessings of Welcoming the Stranger
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
BY: June Johnson
Matthew 25:35-36: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Many years ago, I met my first refugee family. They had left Bosnia to flee from the atrocities related to the breakup of Yugoslavia. A family of five, none spoke much English and Google Translate was not a thing back then! Communicating, then, was a challenge that a little English, a little invented sign language and a little pointing helped resolve. My church family helped them with all the practical things needed to furnish an apartment but mostly we gave each other a unique friendship and mutual giving of love and acceptance. This has been my experience with each refugee family I’ve been blessed to help and come to know.
I have learned how trying it is to navigate our legal and medical institutions when you can’t speak the language and are unfamiliar with the culture. I have learned that proud parents would sacrifice the professions they trained for in their native countries to take any job they can to give their children a safe life. I have learned that children look at their new country with a mix of fear and excitement. I have learned that refugees face an arduous process that can take years to navigate before being accepted to the US. And I have learned that as grateful as they are to find refuge here, they mourn the loss of home and family and friends they may never see again.
A few years back when it became clear that there would be many Afghan families seeking refuge in the US, our Oak Hill family joined together to help in the resettlement of many of those families in Austin. Some donated household goods and furniture and others delivered them and helped set them up. We enjoyed a sense of community within our group while acting as servants to others. Doing this “work” feeds my soul and enriches my life. I am in awe of the courage and faith of our refugee friends, and they help teach me what is important in life, what not to take for granted. This is what I believe my faith calls me to do!
Pope Francis died this week and the whole world is in mourning. In homage to this great man and spiritual leader, someone on Facebook posted his picture with a quote he often used. I think it fits:
“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is...Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”
Welcome to our new blog series exploring the spiritual impact of service! We often discover God's presence in unexpected ways while serving our neighbors. We invite you to join us on this journey of faith and service as we share stories of transformation and discover the profound ways God moves through our acts of compassion.
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