10.20- She surprised me with the call to celebrate our birthday month.

 10.20-

She surprised me with the call to celebrate our birthday month. She wished me happy birthday and I returned the favor. We caught up on losses in her family due to the pandemic.

Her two daughters had been raised by this single parent mother and she had many difficulties to overcome. She lived in a hard section of her town.

This last week she was out walking her dog and was chased by a thug trying to mug her. She ran into her apartment with her little dog she had taken out for the short walk.

She had persisted even though working against the odds. Her two daughters had succeeded in their education. They had gotten good jobs that fit with their hard work ethic. She told me that they had gotten their money together and bought her a car because her car had "died". She was so moved that they used their money to provide a car for her.

I asked her what she felt was the key to the success of her family in spite of the long odds.

"Forgiveness."

"This is what made the difference in our family."

"I got off track and I was able to come back home to God."

Matthew 19.

16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be [k]complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Disciples’ Reward

27 Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the [l]regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on [m]His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother [n]or children or farms on account of My name, will receive [o]many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.