My grandmother gave me a silver charm for my charm bracelet when I was a little girl. I still have it on my bracelet today. “Faith, Hope, and Charity”….I don’t think I really understood it then, or why she loved that charm so much. It came from a little store in her town called The Jewel Box. It was a big deal to me to get a gift from that store. I understand it now. My silver charm is a prized possession of mine. But more important are the words and meaning that are prized today in this time of great uncertainty.
Faith and hope go hand in hand. We must always have faith in God. When I feel panicky, I have to be still and think about that. Hope keeps me going, too! “Charity” in Christian writings is the highest form of love, indicating the reciprocal love between God and humans, which is demonstrated when we show unselfish love to one another.
The phrase is based on 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV): “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (The King James Version uses “charity” instead of “love.”)
The greatest is love. Love today is being demonstrated in so many ways. During this virus outbreak, our health professionals are working endlessly to minister to patients, neighbors are helping the elderly, schools and organizations are feeding children, and people are connecting at a new level.
Our sewing ladies are making masks for medical teams that simply have none. Are they the “required specifications”? No, but when you have nothing, these are so good to have. These are gifts of love. What this really shows is that people are taking the talents they have to show love and concern to those they don’t even know! That is so wonderful.
I have seen children gathering food for food banks and schools. That brings tears to my eyes. They, at a very early age, are learning about sacrificial love as they are doing what they know to do to help. People are bringing masks and gloves from their homes and offices and contributing to medical facilities. I could write for hours about what I have seen that I call “love in action.”
Working together blurs all lines of race, nationality, political party, and age. How refreshing! It’s neighbor helping neighbor to survive and come out on the other side of this a better nation. I pray that we will always love each other as we have during these days. We have found that we can stay home as much as possible and be content.
Faith will be our foundation and rock.
Hope will lead us on this journey of unknown days.
And love will the greatest gift we can give and receive.
May God give you peace and comfort during these days. We are all one in this, and together we will go forward.
Much love and prayers,
Phyllis