[Direction]

This one has always touched my heart deeply...wondering if my spirit would be as strong as this persons...

A poor wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not power to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.

’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in His hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named,
“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.”

[Rapunzel]

I love that song too. I don't think for me that it would be so hard to die for Him, but living for Him is sometimes the bigger challenge.

[SeptemberMorn]

"For inasmuch as you've done it for these, my little bretheren, you have done for Me."

I'm moved to tears, Direction. Thanks for sharing.

[Direction]

Yes, I think living for Him might be a bigger struggle for me too...never thought of it that way...

[SeptemberMorn]

I'm not sure I understand your statement, Direction.

The character in your story could have been anyone; a homeless person, someone who had been beaten, someone who had murder attempted on him, etc. "Man of Grief" gave it away for me. Behind all of these men that the author encountered and helped was Jesus. Whenever we do a kindness for those less fortunate than ourselves, Jesus takes it as an act of kindness that we've done for Him.

There was a homeless man that I used to feed some years ago. I'd drive my husband to work in order to have transportation for myself. We'd always stop at a McDonalds for breakfast. This homeless man was usually in there having a cup of coffee and occasionally would go to the outside trashcans to look for something to eat. It became an automatic thing that I'd order an extra breakfast and take it over to him. He'd be embarrassed but he'd eat a portion and save the rest for later, I'm sure. Invariably, some thought would go through my mind that in an indirect way, I had fed Jesus. I'm sure there were times while he was here on earth that he was hungry. You're acquainted with the verse "I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you clothed me..." etc.

When you do an act of kindness for someone, it's not difficult at all to think "In Jesus name, Amen."

[Rapunzel]

I think that Direction was replying to me, where I said that living for Him might be a bigger challenge for me than dying for Him. To live for Him, you have to keep at it for a long time. Dying gets it over with quick. Sometimes it's the living that is really more important.