Hey, Matt

I would have said refuse the money, too, a while back.  But then I heard
Joni Eareckson Tada (famous Christian quadriplegic artist, author, singer
and lecturer) explain what happens when folks seek to help her.  At first
she felt guilty but then she realized that by refusing their help she was
denying them the ability to be blessed.  Think about it.  JESUS told folks
to bless other folks, especially those who couldn't repay the favor.  What
if everyone who was offered that help said "No!  Go away.  I don't need your
charity."  Even if they said it in a kind way, they are still denying the
other person an opportunity to be blessed.

So now I say, hey, if they want to be a blessing to you, let them.  Even use
it as an opportunity to say "Hey, you know, this reminds me of JESUS."  What
a blessing it would make to anyone's day to be told they are acting as JESUS
would, even if they are a nonbeliever or another faith.

So I think you were right in allowing this woman to be a blessing to you and
to open her life up to a blessing from the LORD.

PS  I think the baby was onto something by telling you not to listen to
headphones while you're babysitting.  Anything that distracts you, even for
a little second, from a baby is a no no.  I know from helping to raise a
herd of nieces and nephews it only takes a second for anyone, blind or
sighted, to take focus off the baby and tragedy is the result.  I won't even
answer the phone when babysitting.  Call me overprotective, but all of my
nieces and nephews survived my care.  Smile.  Tom Sullivan, the blind singer
and song writer wrote about this and included it in his movie "If You Could
See What I Hear."  He was babysitting his new baby, got distracted for a
second, and the baby fell in the pool and almost died.  Not worth the risk,
even to listen to the Word of GOD I think JESUS would tell you.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 11:32 PM
Subject: christian and honest attitude moving in my life


> It's interesting to note the changes in my life however slight since I
have
> adopted a calmer attitude and more of a christian approach to situations.
> We are an adorable little disabled couple.  hahahahahah
> Well, anyway, people respond nicely to us none the less.
> We do have to struggle sometimes to do things which other people take for
> granted, as do all folks with disabilities from time to time.
> Add to this the stress and demands of parenting a small child and
sometimes
> we can look down right worn out and poor.
> The baby is no excuse as we have had what I am going to tell you about
> happen to us before and we didn't even have a baby and indeed did not live
> in as nice a town.
> We had a woman walk up to us at the store recently and offer us money.
> In the past I would have refused the money flattly and been upset over it
> for days to come.  This time, we still refused the money but I also had
the
> woman come back and I explained that we were both disabled and that we
> either biked or walked most everywhere we went and that this was why we
> looked so rung out sometimes.
> I told her that we were financially secure and that the choices we made
for
> the sake of our own independance sometimes meant that we worked a little
> harder to do some things.
> She excepted this but still asked that we take the money and do something
> for the baby.
> I accepted that and told her that we would be happy to do that.
> Mind you it was just 5 dollars so I knew her family would not go without
for
> this kind deed she felt she should do.  Had it been a large amount I
surely
> would have refused the money.
> It made her feel good and in the end we felt ok about it as well.
> Some would get very defencive and even rude over something like this and I
> was their in the past but now I have a better grasp and attitude.
> Thank god for friendly and sweet people who go out of there way to show
> kindness to strangers.
> The woman had seen us before at a comunity function so this was not a
first
> time meeting, but it was the first time we had spoken at length.
> BTW, Kate does not like the new talking bible.
> I was here alone with her today as Terri went christmas shopping with her
> mother and grandmother and when I had the chance I was sticking the
> earphones in and listening.
> Well, Kate could tell when I wasn't focusing full attention on her and she
> would come and climb up on my legs and want to be held or what have you.
> Tipicle kiddo stuff.
>
> Take Care,
>
> Matt