September 26, 2012 2:16 PM
What does it mean to be our brother's keeper?
What does it mean to be our brother's keeper?
Barbara Curtis
9/26/12
Some years ago our family took a financial/lifestyle tumble that landed us in territory I hadn't seen since I was a little girl -- a territory where you no longer own a home, where you turn the heat to 60 and forget the AC, where new clothes and fast food are no longer options, where you use odds-and-ends stamps to make postage. A territory where you are finally dependent -- at least for a while -- on the compassion of others to get you through.
Adding to the crisis was our unusual family situation: Though we are senior citizens, my husband and I still are raising four children with disabilities, three of whom we adopted in our younger and more well-to-do days, our personal "brother's keeper project."
While between the two of us we could manage, when my husband's routine knee surgery turned into a nine-month disability, I was crushed and desperate. I went to my doctor for help. She gave me a sample of antidepressants but I never took them.
Instead, God intervened, sending a veritable army of brothers and sisters in Christ to help us. Families with six or seven kids marched in with full-course dinners. Neighboring churches showed up with coolers full of frozen food to stock our freezer. Firewood appeared from nowhere and teenagers came and stacked it. Home-school moms collected hand-me-downs to keep my growing boys warm all winter. A small private foundation paid a month's utility bills. Unexpected packages arrived and out tumbled gift cards and spiritual books and handmade presents (thanks to Elizabeth Foss for mobilizing the online community).
Read the rest at Catholic Herald
Posted in Inspiration | Permalink
Comments
beautiful. well said. amen.
I especially enjoyed reading what others had done for your family.
I am glad that the Curtis family was so blessed at such a challenging time. I bet those who blessed you felt like they received more by helping you. funny how it always works that way.
Posted by: von | September 27, 2012 12:24 AM
