Rev. Dr. Devin Strong

Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church

Just after Easter this year, my wife Chris and I invited a woman and her young-adult daughter to live with us. A member of our congregation happened upon them living in their car. They were upbeat and positive and never asked our church members for a thing, making us want to help them all the more. When I met with these ladies in person, the positive vibes continued, and I quickly learned that several of our youth knew the girl from school.

Figuring out how to help, how much to help, and deciding to risk is a challenge for Christians. Chris and I have been intentionally stretching our generosity in recent years, but I had never done what I was considering asking my wife to do—taking in two people that we had never met before to stay with us for an indeterminate length of time. We take Jesus’ call to discipleship seriously, and we have a comfortable home with two spare bedrooms. It felt like God was challenging us to share.

We welcomed them to our own and promised to cover food and all reasonable expenses, with the understanding that while they were with us, they would work, save as much money as they could, and do everything possible to set themselves on a positive path for the future. Our goal was not just to provide a few nights’ rest or a couple of good meals but to give them the kind of handup that would make a lasting difference.

They stayed with us for ten weeks, and many parts of our time together were quite enjoyable. Chris made dinner, and every night we sat around the table together laughing and sharing stories. At times it felt like family at its best.

Beyond that, mother and daughter were extremely respectful of shared space and kept to themselves most evenings. Over the course of our time together, Chris and I needed to be away three different times, and we never worried a bit about our home or our property in our absence. We were blessed by their presence.

It was also a challenge. Our own children have been out of the house for nearly nine years, and we forgot how different it is to live with extra people. Our rhythms had to change. Many times, I felt like I was “On” all the time, and guess what? It costs a lot more to feed four people than two! Nothing worth doing is easy.

The hardest and most educational part was getting a close-up view of the kinds of struggles too many families face. Both mother and daughter had a hard time keeping their promises to themselves to work full-time and overcome some of the obstacles that made them homeless in the first place. It was too easy for them to depend on us, rather than believe that they could solve their problems for themselves. When we said, “No,” I am sure that it felt to them like rich people being mean. Saddest of all, our parting did not go well. There was anger, and I have no idea where they are living now.

Still, I am glad we opened our doors. When we help others, we also grow. Chris and I grew in courage and generosity, and we will continue to be generous because Jesus asks us to. I invite each of you to explore ways that you can also risk and stretch yourselves in Jesus’ name.

God Loves You, and So Do I!