Take the First Step
Day 325

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself
from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).

Others will want to show their love for you during grief, but will
often not know how to do that.

Wendy and Jeffrey lost their infant son. Wendy says, "We both felt like
everybody in the entire world was trying to avoid us. They didn't want
to ask us how we were doing because they were scared that we might
actually tell them! They wouldn't know what to say, or they just
didn't
want to talk to us at all because they knew we were probably very sad
people. So that might rub off on them.

"I wish I had counted the number of cards we received because that's a
very easy thing to do. But as far as phone calls? We have very good
friends, and it wasn't that they didn't care; it was just that they
didn't
know what to say. So they didn't call."

If you are in need of a phone call or a listening ear, you may need to
take the first step. Or, if you need to offer someone else a listening
ear, pick up the phone and call. The Bible instructs people to look
after one another and to stay true to His Word.

Father, I'm on both ends of this. I need people to help and encourage
me, and, at the same time, I want to be there for those who need my
support. Amen.

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